So let’s talk Palace for a second, and every couple of months my group chat debates, “Is Palace still cool, or is it giving ‘your cousin’s football-obsessed mate who peaked in 2019’? The whole story behind the brand is literally streetwear legend a bunch of camera-carrying South London skaters, a dirty sense of humor and no real business plan. No investors, no masterplan, just vibes and a triangle logo, which was to be found on runways and red carpets. Whereas, here me asking, out loud and on the internet: Is Palace Skateboards still relevant in 2026 or is it just a product of nostalgia at this point? Let’s dig in.
A Quick and Dirty History Lesson
But, you would have to ask yourself where it came from in order to answer the question of whether Palace Skateboards are still relevant, so hold off for a bit of history I suppose before getting to the fun part.
Lev Tanju and the South London Crew
Palace originated from a real squat flat near the skate spot in London, known as “The Palace” by the crew who rented out the flat. The man who brought the brand back, so to speak, or is basically Palace, himself, is Lev Tanju and the guys that he started the brand with in 2009, as an extension of the skate videos that they were already creating. It was not a fashion project or a brainstorm session of a marketing agency. It was a group of skaters; they loved a good time and they were very close to the legendary Slam City Skates shop, creating stuff for themselves and their friends first.
The Trio Logo That Took Over the World
But there is the logo to consider. The Tri-Ferg is a Penrose triangle in the guise of a Nike swoosh, designed by illustrator Fergus Purcell, aka Fergadelic. It’s easy, it’s a little optical-illusion clever, and it’s ick on almost any hat from a hat to a snowboard. It’s that logo, plus Palace’s grainy, lo-fi and very humorous video production that put the brand from cult London thing to global streetwear royalty. They were working closely with Adidas, later on Nike, and the hype machine just kept on going.
What Has Palace Actually Been Dropping Lately
This is where it gets interesting, though, given that Palace in 2026 isn’t taking it easy.
The 2025-2026 Collab Run Is Genuinely Wild
For spring 2026, Palace was pushing the envelope on skull prints, a menacing red-eyed dog graphic, and an entirely new “Tri-Realtree” version, as well as a graffiti hand-drawn version of the Tri-Ferg. Of course they did, that’s peak Palace chaos-but-make-it-intentional energy, they paired GORE-TEX technical outerwear with a leopard print fleece hoodie. That’s not to mention that they collaborated with heritage outerwear brand Schott NYC to create a flight jacket saturated in “Palace Division” branding, a nod to New York city-sourced workwear in a British context.
Then there’s the fifth reunion of Palace and Japanese denim label EVISU, 23 pieces of which are dedicated to EVISU’s 35th anniversary that’s a flex, right? Not many brands get invited back this often. They also partnered with San Francisco Giants for an 8 piece MLB collection that features stonewash denim and stadium socks, and are releasing their third and final Nike Air Max 95 model alongside a silver-to-black gradient reminiscent of the Air Max 97 Silver Bullet. Oh and Palace’s continued association with Nike apparently has them dressed up to outfit the England national football team for the 2026 World Cup – if 2009 squat-flat Lev Tanju had heard that he probably wouldn’t have believed it. They are also continuing the trend with their Fall 2026 collection that features an Avirex leather jacket, “Palace Transport Co.” workwear, and a truly bonkers collaboration with Fleischer Studios that introduces real Betty Boop.
Underground Cred vs Going Mainstream
Here’s the question that everyone is asking, though: has Palace retained its soul with its big size?
The Tension Is Real, But They’re Managing It
There’s always that fine line that streetwear brands have to tread: if they’re everywhere, they can easily become the thing that’s no longer cool because there’s someone else with a mum’s coworker’s hoodie. Palace has played around with that area a lot. The thing is, even when the Palace Skateboards are taking off into massive sports contracts and heritage fashion houses, the humour and Britishness remains untouched. Their campaigns remain bizarre, their castings remain teeming with real skaters and random characters, before models who have never even stepped on a board. One that sold out versus one that simply grew more, but did not change its identity.
Who’s Actually Wearing Palace Right Now
Things have changed since the early days, let’s be honest.
From Skate Kids to Everyone’s Wardrobe
Back when it was all about skater stuff for skater people, Palace was just that. By 2026, it’s a real crossover brand that’s worn by football fans, music lovers, fashion kids and yes, folks who don’t even skate! It appears on the musicians, footballers and UK celebrity circuit in general, and that’s why the “is it still a skate brand” argument will continue to come up. The core buyer is now Gen Z, who want the skateboarding heritage as well as the aesthetic, which is not necessarily a bad thing, it’s just a different thing.
Palace vs Corteiz and the New UK Wave
No one can talk about British streetwear in 2026 without mentioning Corteiz.
Has the Crown Actually Changed Hands
Corteiz created its complete empire on secretive launches, guerrilla marketing and one of the tightest-fitting communities in the United States, even before it joined an increasing Nike apparel partnership. It’s got a lot of momentum and a lot of “underground” energy right now – largely due to being early in its cycle. Comparing the two, is not apples to apples. Palace shows that subcultural brands can go global without losing their identity, whereas Corteiz is still that ragtag, exclusive kind. But Corteiz didn’t “take the crown”, it’s more like the guys from the UK streetwear scene now have two completely different kings running two completely different kingdoms – and some newer players are pushing their way into the throne room as well.
Skate Brand or Fashion Brand at Heart
This may be the crux of the whole still relevant debate about Palace Skateboards.
The Boards Are Still There, Even If They’re Not the Point Anymore
Today Palace continues to produce real skateboards, maintain a real team, and even cheers on skate culture as much by its graphics as its video content. However, don’t get the impression that the main business in 2026 will be decks, it will be outerwear, football-themed kits, and headline deals with sports leagues and sneaker companies. The skate roots are more of a statement of the brand’s roots and soul rather than the primary product line as the skateboarding brand Supreme did. Is that a betrayal? Eh, not really. It’s merely what occurs whenever a subculture brand reaches this magnitude and this worldwide.
Is Palace Still Worth Buying for Resale
Well, let’s be honest, I know there are some of you here because of the investing side of it as well.
Selective Pieces Still Hold Value, Most Don’t
Resale at Palace in 2026 is much more picky than ever. The Wild, Guaranteed Flip days of a few years ago seem to be over as the brand is dropped much more than it was in years past and scarcity is not what it used to be. But big collaborations such as the Nike Air Max 95, EVISU capsules, or anything associated with a significant cultural event like the World Cup maintain and can increase in resale value. Its base seasonal tees and hoodies, however, are in the retail and slightly above range. For flippers, only the truly limited collabs, as opposed to the regular drops.
The Itismandystyle Verdict
So, is Palace Skateboards relevant in today’s world? Sure, but it’s not the same sort of relevant as ten years ago. It doesn’t mean that it’s not the scrappy little underdog anymore, it’s just a full-fledged institution that somehow remains a little bit unhinged and a little bit British and a little bit funny while working with baseball teams and heritage denim brands. It is not the coolest kid in the room like Corteiz is right now, but it doesn’t have to be Palace has firmly entrenched itself in the streetwear pantheon and continues to release some of the most exciting product around. If you are fortunate enough to enjoy it for the humor and the heritage, continue to purchase it. If you’re just looking for some “clout” you may want to consider the “new boys on the block” in your current personality. Either that, or Palace will stick around and that’s the beauty of it.
