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Photograph: (Phoenix Palladium)
Golden Goose chose Mumbai for a quiet but considered statement.
On December 11, the Italian luxury sneaker brand opened its doors at Palladium mall in Lower Parel, marking its third store in India after Delhi and Bengaluru. Instead of leaning on scale or spectacle, the brand anchored its Mumbai arrival in meaning, pairing its philosophy of imperfection with Indian craftsmanship through a collaboration with designer Manish Malhotra.
“We are not just a luxury brand, we want to be a loved brand,” said Golden Goose CEO Silvio Campara during the launch. “Coming to the store and curating your own shoes brings a moment of happiness to people.” For Campara, India is not merely a growth market but a cultural echo. “India has so many similarities to Italy,” he added, pointing to shared traditions of craftsmanship, emotion driven design and a deep respect for artisanship.
That thinking shaped the decision to collaborate with Malhotra, whose design language has long balanced opulence with handwork. Rather than a logo forward release, the partnership resulted in two co-created sneakers that quietly merge Golden Goose’s distressed aesthetic with Malhotra’s embroidery led sensibility.
The women’s sneaker was crafted in white cream suede, detailed with gold floral embroidery, while the men’s version translated the same motif onto a black suede base. The result was restrained rather than decorative, allowing craftsmanship to surface gradually rather than announce itself immediately.
“For me, this collaboration was about bringing my journey as a couturier together with Golden Goose’s artisanal heritage,” said Malhotra. “From the very beginning, I wanted to experiment with embroideries and floral motifs in a fresh way, allowing the spirit of Indian craftsmanship to meet Italian design.”
Golden Goose is best known for its intentionally worn in sneakers, each pair treated through a specialised process that creates scuffs, creases and faded textures. The brand’s partially hidden or imperfect star patches are a visual reminder of its core belief that human beings, and by extension design, do not need to be perfect.
That philosophy extended into the Mumbai store experience. Alongside sneakers, ready to wear, jackets and accessories, the store introduced visitors to Golden Goose’s co creation concept. Guests collaborated with the brand’s artisans, known as Dream Makers, to personalise their sneakers, selecting from multiple sneaker tongues embellished with crystal charms and brooches to create one of a kind pairs.
With three stores now operational in India, Golden Goose is approaching expansion cautiously. “At the moment, we do not plan to open any more stores,” said Campara. “We want to wait and see how these stores will be received here.” He added that Malhotra was the right collaborator to communicate the brand’s ethos locally, helping translate its values rather than simply its products.
In a luxury market that is becoming increasingly selective, Golden Goose’s Mumbai debut signals a measured approach. The brand is betting not on immediacy, but on emotional connection, craft and participation, positioning itself to be worn, experienced and gradually understood by the Indian consumer.
