The most popular Made in Italy sneakers
Aside from Italy’s scrumptious food, historical landmarks, and rich culture in fashion and the arts, the European country has also mastered their craft in making sneakers.
They don’t need the hype unlike other major brands, Made in Italy sneakers are always known for their premium quality and sustainability that provide comfort and durability to wearers.
Let’s take a look at some of the most popular sneaker brands that are Made in Italy. It’s a refreshing read that stays away from the likes of Nike, Adidas, Jordan Brand, and other companies that belong in the mainstream streetwear culture.
Made in Italy sneakers are underrated, so it’s about time to give them the attention that they deserve.
Brand sneakers
Golden Goose Deluxe
One of the most controversial luxury sneaker brands founded in Venice, Italy. Golden Goose Deluxe Brand is one of the most unique footwear companies that has mastered its own signature style - handmade pre-distressed sneakers.
Golden Goose was the brainchild of two young Venetian designers Francesca Rinaldo and Alessandro Gallo, who both didn’t have any prior experience in fashion and design. Golden Goose boasted Italy’s high-quality artisanship with its unique products. The brand wanted to set itself apart from other Italian fashion companies right from the very start, leading to bold and unusual styles that were never dared by others.
Both catering clothing, accessories, and sneakers, Golden Goose made mainstream media in 2008 with the introduction of the Super-Star sneaker. No, they’re not similar to the other, more popular Superstar from the Brand with the Three Stripes; but Golden Goose’s Super-Star is completely more unique, and had distinguishing features never seen before on any brand. Its most distinguishing features? Dirt, scuff marks, and other stains that looked like they were already worn a hundred times. But they weren’t worn before they were shipped. They were actually individually pre-distressed by the sneaker makers and are all handmade in Italy.
Brand Super-Star sneakers
Golden Goose
The GGDB Super-Star may vary in materials depending on the colorway, but most of them are made with pure cowhide leather (Italian leather), and accompanied by cotton interior linings. The low-cut sneaker also features the GGDB signature star on the midfoot section, three circular perforations near the ankle collar, and a nice and thick heel tab for added comfort. To finish it off, the rubber soles sport a herringbone traction pattern for consistent grip anywhere.
As Golden Goose’s first sneaker, the Super-Star is arguably the most memorable sneaker for the brand.
Golden Goose sneaker
However, the brand’s unusual pre-distressed gimmick earned a lot of criticisms over the internet.
Love it or hate it, Golden Goose is surely one unique brand that’s not meant for everyone.
Common Projects
Another Italy-made footwear brand that was founded in 2004 by Prathan Poopat and Flavio Girolami, Common Projects is another luxury company that showcases clean and minimalist designs - looking like the counternarrative to its fellow Italian brand Golden Goose.
The name was taken from the duo’s “common projects” that they have worked together despite living in different places. Poopat is an American-based art director, while Girolami is an Italian creative consultant. Their passion for art and creativity led to the creation of hand-stitched Italian-made sneakers that utilize the brand’s premium Nappa leather.
Common Projects’ most iconic sneaker is the Achilles Low. The feature that sets the shoe apart isn’t anything special. As a matter of fact, the Achilles Low did not have any branding aside from the golden numbers on the side that specify the shoe’s details and sizing. Take off the Swoosh, take off the Three Stripes, take off any product labels and signatures, and Common Projects will still deliver.
Common Projects sneaker
Aside from the Achilles, the Chelsea boots from Common Projects are also popular - being worn by artists, celebrities, and other personalities that managed to sport a low-profile luxury sneaker brand.
Superga
Clean, classic, and comfortable. That’s probably what most people would say when asked what they feel about the “People’s shoes of Italy.”
Operating for more than a century, Superga truly is one of Italy’s finest sneaker brands that people never seem to forget. They’re quite affordable for the comfort and durability they offer - making them a good option for everyone looking for a minimalist shoe.
Founded in 1911 in Turin, Italy by Walter Martiny, Superga specialized in rubber-soled sneakers and labeled them with the Superga logo. The brand continued to release plimsolls until a breakthrough in 1925 brought the Italian brand to new heights.
Proudly Italian made
Proudly people’s shoes in Italy
That’s not the case anymore though. One thing to take note of in this era is that most Superga sneakers aren’t made in Italy anymore. The label tags are marked with “Made in Vietnam” nowadays, but they used to be made in Italy, so Superga is still worth mentioning. Despite their shift in production to the Asian region, the brand is still lauded for their consistent quality and decent comfort that’s praised by fans.
Back in 1925, the Superga Cotu 2750 was released. It had vulcanized soles that gave the foot more protection. The vulcanized sole also has an extra outer later on the midsole to ensure durability and lateral stability. It was instantly a classic hit and established itself as one of the most iconic shoes for that decade.
The 2750 Classics are still popular even today. Superga UK launched the brand ambassador collection in 2012 and featured top personalities such as Rita Ora, Binx Walton, Alexa Chung, and more. If that wasn’t enough to convince people to try the shoe, even the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, boosted the brand’s popularity when she wore a pair of the Cotu 2750 Classics.
Though the brand stopped producing their sneakers in Italy, their glory days have brought them where they are now even when they shifted to the east.
Gucci
Another definition of luxurious and fancy, Gucci is an iconic Italian fashion powerhouse that remains on the bucket list of people who aim to be rich.
Gucci was founded by Guccio Gucci in 1921 in Florence, Italy. The brand started as a a luggage manufacturer, known for crafting expensive travel bags and other equipment that’s intended for the country’s upper class families.
When people talk about Gucci, everyone knows from the get-go that it’s one of the most prominent fashion labels on the planet. The brand transitioned to clothing, accessories, and footwear when Gucci’s empire started to flourish.
The brand’s logo is made up of Double Gs - with the other one inverted for a symmetrical proportion. But if there was another signature detail that fans and followers could easily identify, it would be the green and red stripe ensemble that’s seen on most Gucci products.
Gucci Ace Women’s sneakers
When it comes to the footwear category, Gucci has decent sneaker models that took the luxury footwear community by storm. Lifestyle sneakers like the Gucci Ace flaunts Gucci’s signature emblems.
Gucci sneakers are all crafted in Italy, so expect nothing but high-quality and premium kicks from the high-class fashion label.
Gucci has their own version of ‘dad shoes’ too. The Gucci Rhyton features a thick and bulky sole unit that also promotes eco-friendly materials on its Demetra upper. The sustainability initiative was the sneaker brands’ way to lessen the use of plastic wastes and combat the effects of climate change.
Louis Vuitton
Louis Vuitton is one of the longest-running fashion brands on the planet. Established in 1837 by a 16-year old Louis Vuitton, the namesake brand started out by manufacturing trunks, carriages, and baggage. The young Parisian founder mastered his craft and even became a personal trunk maker for France’s Empress Eugenie de Montijo, Napoleon III’s wife.
More than 180 years later, Louis Vuitton is one of the most if not the most established fashion powerhouse all over the world. Its influence in fashion led to limited edition clothing and footwear that are still highly sought after until today.
The most memorable Louis Vuitton sneaker release is probably the 2009 collab with none other than Yeezy himself, Kanye West. A total of 8 sneakers were designed by Kanye and released during the same year that the Nike Air Yeezy was set to release.
It was one of the most hyped Louis Vuitton sneakers mainly because it was associated with Kanye West.
All Louis Vuitton sneakers are made in Italy. Another popular sneaker model from LV is the LV Trainer, a modern lifestyle shoe inspired by vintage basketball footwear and was designed by another icon in the fashion world and current Off-White founder Virgil Abloh.
LV is one of the most expensive brands ever. While it may not be available to most sneakerheads, everyone who can afford their sneakers are surely satisfied with their hefty purchase.
Other notable brands:
Conclusion
Made in Italy sneakers are all pretty darn expensive. But the quality and comfort that people can get from trying their sneakers is pretty darn good too.
That’s enough to prove that not all fashion heads are focused on the hype and sneaker trends.