Our Story: how Golden Goose was born

28.01.2025

From Italy to the United States, the story of Golden Goose is unique and ever-evolving

Golden Goose was born on December 23, 2000, from the vision and inspiration of its two founders, Francesca Rinaldo and Alessandro Gallo. At the time, they were two designers in their early twenties, raised among the cranes of the industrial port of Marghera (Venice), with an ambitious and unconventional vision. Passionate about exploring the world, they collected inspirations during their travels and transformed them into unique garments.

The first Golden Goose creations were born in Marghera, in a garage turned office, where the two founders designed their first bespoke garments. These initial pieces were artisanal and genderless, inspired by their travels and brought to life with the help of a Venetian craftsman.

Golden Goose's first ready-to-wear piece emerged from the reworking of an old pair of denim jeans that Francesca deconstructed and hand-stitched into a skirt. Then came the first shoes, which remain among the brand's most iconic pieces: the Golden Boots. These vintage-inspired boots were inspired by a trip to the United States, specifically New Mexico and Texas.

From the very beginning, Golden Goose creations have embodied the brand's core values, which remain central today: uniqueness, craftsmanship, and timelessness.

Golden Goose style grows with every journey

In the brand's early years, the United States profoundly influenced its development. The founders were captivated by the style of American colleges and the skateboarding world. From a trip to Los Angeles came the inspiration for Golden Goose's first sneakers: the Super-Star.

In 2007, after being fascinated by the worn-out look of Los Angeles skateboarders' shoes, Francesca Rinaldo and Alessandro Gallo decided to create sneakers that replicated the signs of wear from hours spent skating. Since then, the lived-in concept has become a defining feature of Golden Goose's style, celebrating the unique stories clothing can tell.

This focus on the lived-in look also draws on kintsugi, the ancient Japanese repair technique in which broken ceramics are reassembled using gold powder. Through this process, every scratch becomes an asset, and every crack tells a story—an embodiment of our philosophy.

From Venice to Milan, Golden Goose Keeps Growing

In 2008, the founders created Golden Goose's first true home in Marghera, at Via dell’Atomo 8, in a former foundry renovated with an industrial style. From here, the colorful cranes, shipyards, railway tracks, and landscapes that became part of Golden Goose's DNA were visible and later recreated in the brand’s stores worldwide.

The first store opened in Milan in 2013. Since then, we have grown exponentially, with over 180 stores in 23 countries.

Milan is also home to our headquarters. In 2020, Silvio Campara, the brand’s CEO, established Golden Goose’s new home in the city. Our horizons have expanded with new projects and inspirations, such as the From Venice to Venice event in 2021. This event celebrated skateboarding with a massive floating skate bowl off the coast of the Island of San Giorgio.

We have elevated the customer experience with our Forward Stores: an innovative retail concept launched in 2022 that allows customers to reshape their Golden pieces through repair and remake services.

In 2023, we took part in Paris Fashion Week with the HAUS of Dreamers Paris event, showcasing the new Journey SS24 collection.

Today, our story continues to grow, filled with achievements and milestones. The Golden Family now includes 1,400 members—1,600 when including the production hub. Even far from home, we feel at home: inclusion, participation, and sharing drive us to bring extraordinary projects to life.