Why Golden Goose sneakers look worn in

01.07.2024

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Our sneakers' lived-in look speaks to uniqueness and authenticity

Golden Goose sneakers are handcrafted to sport a lived-in look, making each pair unique. This design choice celebrates the beauty and uniqueness of imperfections embedded in our brand’s philosophy, both in the creation process and throughout the wearer's experience.

Each Golden Goose shoe is designed to be a one-of-a-kind piece that narrates a tale of distinctiveness, as well as fostering a genuine connection with its owner. With every step, the wearer adds to the shoe’s character through their life experience, by making new memories.

The philosophy of perfect imperfection

Our design choices and creations are rooted in celebrating imperfections and authenticity, which are intrinsic qualities of life experience.

As a brand, we aim to enhance our customers’ singularity and creative expression, crafting items that simultaneously embody a journey and tell a story.

Our signature lived-in look

The idea of providing our sneakers with a time-worn aesthetic stemmed from our very first model, the Super-Star, launched back in 2007.

During a trip to Los Angeles, founders Francesca Rinaldo and Alessandro Gallo, were hugely inspired by California’s thriving skating hub - namely, by the shoes worn by skaters cruising LA’s oceanfront bowls.

The signs of wear and tear from continued use shown on the skaters' sneakers were a testament to their passion and, at the same time, referenced their personal life stories. Marvelling at the beauty of such wear marks, Francesca and Alessandro decided to lend a distressed effect to their first model, deliberately recreating an imperfect, worn-in style - our so-called signature lived-in look - with rough wear spots, just like the ones naturally caused by skateboarding.

The secret behind our artisanal lived-in look

Our sneaker manufacturing process, which takes over four hours per model, culminates with the lived-in treatment stage, ensuring each sneaker is given a distinctive and unique appearance.

Legend has it, that at the debut of the lived-in treatment experimental process, the shoes were left hanging in direct sunlight, so that the sole, or foxing - the rubber strip around the shoe - would turn yellow. This is why our stores worldwide feature ceilings adorned with hanging sneakers, as a token of appreciation for the old days down at the Marghera warehouse, near Venice (Italy), where it all began.

By making sneakers that embody our Golden Goose's philosophy, we aim to spark a sense of community among our Golden Lovers, as they are an integral part of our story. Our customers add to it, through their own experience. By choosing Golden Goose, one embraces our motto ‘Your story, our story’.