Trainers

“Trainers” is a generic term used for athletic shoes or footwear designed for physical activities or sport. There exists a myriad of preferred terms when referring to athletic shoes, terms derived primarily by region. For example, Americans refer to athletic footwear as sneakers; Our English counterparts in the United Kingdom refer to them as Trainers.

Evidently, in 1968, the term “Trainer” became a genericised tradename, that is, a name or trademark used as a generic description for an entire class or products of services. In layman’s terms, the name of the product was used so often, it became a word itself. The term itself derived from a training shoe developed by Gola, a sporting goods manufacturer headquartered in the United Kingdom. The usage of the word paved the way for it becoming a generic term now widely used in the UK.

Gola was founded in 1905 and made its name by producing athletic track suits and trainers. Two of its most popular trainers are the “Harrier”, a low-cut gum-soled athletic shoe, and “Chase”, a low profile, form-fitting track sprinter, with both designs having been implemented into urban-footwear design. Both trainers gained their popularity for their sleek design and cheaper pricing, something parents found most attractive. Gola was re-introduced in the UK as a “retro” sports brand, appealing to the nostalgic appetites of older age-groups.

While Gola may not carry the relevance it once it had, it has undoubtedly grasped a hold onto footwear culture and history. However, the term “Trainer” never made a mark in American culture, despite the training boom of the 1980s. The prevalence of athletic training footwear by Nike, Adidas, Reebok, and a number of other footwear brands led to a large amount of trainer shoes, but by then, the term sneakers had already burrowed itself as an American tradename.