Sole purpose: Italian sneaker label launches in Mumbai with a limited-edition Manish Malhotra drop

Golden Goose, a brand built on fine Italian craftmanship, deepens its presence in India with a flagship store at Phoenix Palladium Mumbai, and an exclusive collaboration with designer Manish Malhotra. The creative association yielded two limited-edition sneakers with Italian precision and Malhotra’s trademark glamour. The pair for women comes in a creamy white suede, embroidered with delicate gold florals while the men’s version shines with metallic details on black suede.

The partnership signals more than just a retail expansion— it reflects a growing dialogue between international luxury labels and Indian fashion sensibilities. The Italian House’s expansion comes at a time when Indian consumers are embracing individuality over uniformity. At the helm of this expansion is Silvio Campara, Global CEO of Golden Goose, whose vision has transformed the label into a global luxury powerhouse while preserving its “imperfect” soul. Bazaar India speaks to Campara about the collaboration, authenticity, India as a muse, and more.

Harper’s Bazaar: You’ve overseen Golden Goose’s evolution into a global luxury player. Why does India feel like the correct next chapter in this journey?

Silvio Campara: India feels inevitable in the most beautiful way. It is one of the few markets where culture, craftsmanship, and identity remain deeply intertwined with how people choose to dress. For Golden Goose, growth has never been about geography alone—it has always been about resonance. India has a young, culturally confident audience. Opening our Mumbai flagship is not about entering a new market; it’s about joining a conversation already rich with creativity, individuality, and authenticity—perfectly aligned with who we are.

HB: India is deeply rooted in craftsmanship and heritage. Did you see parallels with Golden Goose’s artisanal identity?

SC: India understands something very powerful: craftsmanship isn’t frozen in the past, but something that continues to live, evolve, and to be nurtured. At Golden Goose, every sneaker is hand-finished, intentionally imperfect, and deeply personal. India shares that respect for the human hand, for time, and for traditions that evolve rather than disappear.

HB: In a world obsessed with perfection, Golden Goose celebrates the ‘perfectly imperfect’. Why do you think this emotional narrative resonates so deeply with consumers worldwide?

SC: At Golden Goose we embrace ‘perfect imperfection’ as a philosophy that reflects life itself : never flawless, but always authentic. Today’s consumers especially younger generations, don’t want to be told who to be; they want the freedom to be themselves. Our message is simple—be unique, be yourself, embrace imperfection. When you wear Golden Goose, you’re not wearing a perfect object, but a personal story. Scuffs, cuts, and distressing are not flaws; they are declarations of humanity. In a world that often feels algorithm-driven and artificial, authenticity becomes the ultimate luxury.

HB: This is Golden Goose’s first collaboration with an Indian designer, and Manish Malhotra represents glamour, craft, and cinematic culture. What was the design vocabulary like?

SC: We wanted a partner who embodies love for his people, respect for craftsmanship, and a deep emotional connection to culture—and Manish perfectly represents all of that. He has loved Golden Goose for years, so this was never a forced collaboration, but a genuine meeting of two worlds that already respected each other. Manish brought glamour, cinematic emotion, and an intimate understanding of Indian craft while we contributed our artisanal sneaker-making and philosophy of imperfection. He approached the sneakers as storytelling objects rather than products, and that freedom, curiosity, and shared belief that luxury should feel human shaped every part of the design process.

HB: Tell us about the two limited-edition sneakers. What details or techniques make them feel like a true marriage of both worlds?

SC: This exclusive partnership comes to life through two limited-edition sneakers co-designed with Manish. The women’s sneaker is crafted in white cream suede with delicate gold floral embroidery—elegant, expressive, and deeply rooted in Indian artisanal tradition. The men’s version mirrors the same intricate motif on a sleek black suede base, creating striking contrast. It’s Golden Goose’s philosophy of personalisation meeting Manish’s couture sensibility—a union of craft and emotion, Italy and India.
 

HB: What would you say to the Indian consumer discovering Golden Goose for the first time?

SC: Don’t try to fit in, stand out. You are the protagonist— not the brand or the product. Wear your sneakers for life’s biggest moments, personalise them, make them your own, and let them carry your stories and memories. We don’t believe in perfection, we believe in authenticity. And it’s your story that gives our sneakers their meaning.

This article first appeared in Bazaar India's January 2026 print edition.

All images: Courtesy the brand

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