Golden Goose
HSG · Italy
Golden Goose is an Italian luxury sneaker and lifestyle brand founded near Venice in 2000 and best known for its deliberately worn-looking Super-Star sneakers. Chinese investment firm HSG completed the acquisition of a majority stake in June 2026, with Permira and Temasek as minority shareholders and Silvio Campara continuing as chief executive.
| Founded | 2000, Marghera (Venice) |
|---|---|
| Founders | Alessandro Gallo and Francesca Rinaldo |
| Owner | HSG (majority, since June 2026) |
| CEO | Silvio Campara |
| Headquarters | Milan, Italy |
| Revenue | 734 million euros (FY2025, per Permira) |
| Website | goldengoose.com |
What is Golden Goose?
Golden Goose is an Italian brand built around handcrafted sneakers with a distressed, vintage finish, extended into apparel and accessories. Footwear accounts for the large majority of its sales. Its headquarters are in Milan, while its creative roots remain in Marghera near Venice, where the HAUS community and craft space is based.
History
Designers Alessandro Gallo and Francesca Rinaldo founded the brand in Marghera in 2000. The Super-Star sneaker, with its star logo and worn-in look, launched in 2007 and became the house's signature.
The company passed through several private equity owners: DGPA in 2013, Ergon Capital in 2015, The Carlyle Group in 2017 and Permira in 2020. A planned stock market listing in 2024 was postponed. In 2025 HSG (formerly HongShan) agreed to acquire a majority stake, and the deal was completed in June 2026. Temasek and True Light Capital joined as minority shareholders, Permira retained a minority stake, Silvio Campara continued as chief executive and Marco Bizzarri became non-executive chairman.
Products and positioning
Golden Goose sells sneakers and other footwear, ready to wear and accessories at luxury price points. In 2022 it acquired its main sneaker supplier, Italian Fashion Team, securing its manufacturing base.
Business model and distribution
The brand has shifted towards direct-to-consumer sales. According to Permira, it operated 232 stores across EMEA, the Americas and Asia Pacific in 2026, and revenue grew from 266 million euros in FY2020 to 734 million euros in FY2025.
- Own stores: 232 stores worldwide (2026)
- E-commerce: direct online sales
- Wholesale: selected luxury retailers
Golden Goose and technology
The brand's website offers Co-Creation, an online personalisation service in which customers customise products in a session with a craftsperson, with items then finished in Marghera. It also runs a repair service under its Forward programme and a Passport app for early access to product drops.
Why it matters
Golden Goose is one of the best examples of a single-category luxury brand scaled by private equity, and its sale to HSG is one of the most significant Chinese investments in a Western luxury brand.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns Golden Goose?
Investment firm HSG, formerly HongShan, completed its acquisition of a majority stake in June 2026. Temasek and True Light Capital joined as minority shareholders and Permira retained a minority stake.
Where is Golden Goose from?
Golden Goose is Italian. It was founded in 2000 in Marghera near Venice, where its sneakers are hand-finished, and its corporate headquarters are in Milan.