The Golden Goose

MIAMI, FL – August 10, 2023 – The InFlorida team recently visited Golden Goose Forward in Miami to take a closer look at their philosophy of sneaker restoration and explore the drive behind the acknowledgement of fashion sustainability. We also asked the question, ‘can sneaker recycling really make footwear feel fresh and new after a few years out of the box?

Repair, remake, resell, recycle – these are the four bases of Italian footwear and clothing label Golden Goose’s new ‘Forward Stores.’ The Miami Store opened Friday, June 16,2023 following their recently opened Forward stores situated in Milan, Dubai, and New York.

On entering the store, we half expected a whiff of musty old shoes. However, we were pleasantly surprised, when the smell of leather, and an arborous scent welcomed us. We later found out that the earthy fragrance was from a selection of lovely colognes and perfumes. The décor was the perfect balance of industrial and retro cool with concrete flooring, wooden tables, and metal accents, including rustic iron pillars. A nostalgic nod to the past with colorful 80s cassette tapes, a skateboard, and roller skates added a fun element to the stores design.

Most notably is the Calzoleria, the Italian word for shoemaker, station. It’s here where the miracles take place. Customers can bring sneaker products from any brand for cleaning and purification, repairs and replacements, restoration, and renovation. Filippo Pasquato is an Italian cobbler hired by Golden Goose. His wealth of knowledge about the product and materials is impressive as he guided us through the store explaining the brands concept and suggesting ideas for repairing and customizing our sneakers. I went for some bling studding on my sneakers trim and updated the famous Golden Goose star to a newer fresher glitzy version. My co-worker simply had her sneakers cleaned up and the insole replaced.

The personalization features include a bespoke program for sneaker-making from scratch, two recycling baskets for old products, and an instore reselling opportunity. This is where customers selected Golden Goose pieces can be displayed for up to 60 days and other customers can purchase them. We were impressed that unlike many online resell platforms, Golden Goose does not profit from a customer’s sale.

Golden Goose’s Italian heritage is evident throughout the store. The sharp tailoring of the clothes with their glamour and sophistication, and the well-designed leather sneakers are juxtaposed with the founders travels to places like the United States where the skateboard culture enthuses into their designs. Known for their objective for uniqueness, and their items to be “lived in and touched by life,” the brands forward thinking for what the now culture wants, is no surprise.

Today’s generation is astute and increasingly avoids disposable fashion. Instead, they appreciate superior brands and the quality they can provide. They consume intentionally and with quality brands like Golden Goose providing an option where sneakers can be recycled, or updated, not only can they be eco-friendly, but customers can also modify their sneakers to represent them as an individual.

Coming from what the InFlorida team like to refer to as the ‘microwave generation,’ where things are thrown in and spat out, visiting Golden Goose Forward in Miami has not only challenged an antiquated attitude, but it has also convinced us that the disposable fashion era has no place in today’s mindset.

Fancy rejuvenating your old sneakers, or purchasing and customizing then visit Golden Goose Forward Store – Cobbler and Tailoring 4052 NE 1st Ave, in Miami  

For use by InFlorida.com, Formerly Florida Coast Magazine, Jupiter, FL