Designers Francesca Rinaldo and Alessandro Gallo wholly embrace the wear and patina that a shoe will acquire with time – so much so that they gift their works a head start. The scuffs, marks, paint smears and distressing signature to their Golden Goose label are all achieved by hand–and are ultimately crucial to their ethos of “perfect imperfection.” To them, beauty is found in the irregular, custom and unexpected. With each pair, perfection may not be the goal… but the outcome certainly comes close.
Despite the lived-in appearance, Golden Goose sneakers are crafted with the highest precision. This is a brand born in Venice after all, informed by the same culture of taste that fostered great Italian labels such as Bottega Veneta and Valentino. With every design they concept, Francesca and Alessandro simultaneously embrace and reject the steadfast notions of Italian fashion. Their shoes are exquisitely crafted, but made to look like they’ve already traveled the world. They use traditional materials, such as lambskin and organic rubber, but transform them into surfaces for contemporary living. Each pair is cobbled slowly by hand but still embodies a core spontaneity.
For fall, Golden Goose is all about bringing back the classics with a twist. Suede and glitter in soft tones are buffed, shredded and skittered. They are ultimately comfortable right out of the box, with a raised footbed that cushions the sole with a firm, sporty feel. Prototypical skater shoes, retro basketball styles and radical hi-tops define the core of the delivery, inviting us to reacquaint ourselves with our favorite sneaks of memory.
