People Can't Believe These Taped-Up, Dirty-Looking Sneakers Cost $530

Critics are accusing Italian clothing brand Golden Goose of "mocking poverty" with the shoes.
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Whatever happened to getting beat-up shoes the old-fashioned way? You know, by wearing them a lot?

High-end Italian clothing brand Golden Goose is getting some serious blowback this week after the internet noticed it was selling intentionally roughed-up sneakers ― made to look like they’re dirty and held together with tape ― for $530.

According to Golden Goose’s website, the “Superstar,” as the shoe is called, consists of a “calf suede upper” featuring a “hot application of coloured tape” and intentionally worn laces.

“Crumply, hold-it-all-together tape details a distressed leather sneaker in a retro low profile with a signature sidewall star and a grungy rubber cupsole,” reads a description of the shoes on the Nordstrom website, where they are currently for sale.
“Crumply, hold-it-all-together tape details a distressed leather sneaker in a retro low profile with a signature sidewall star and a grungy rubber cupsole,” reads a description of the shoes on the Nordstrom website, where they are currently for sale.
Golden Goose

Twitter users weren’t happy that Golden Goose is charging such a hefty price for the sneakers, with some accusing the brand of “mocking poverty.”

Defenders, however, point out that Golden Goose has been selling distressed clothing for years.

The company was involved in this same type of controversy in 2016, when it sold similarly stressed shoes for similarly outrageous prices. “The company ... is actually proud to highlight its pioneering role in the booming of the distressed look, one of the current biggest trends in fashion,” Golden Goose said at the time. The company did not immediately reply to HuffPost’s request for comment.

On the plus side, if you’re actually interested in dropping $530 on these artificially beat-up shoes, Nordstrom is selling them ― and apparently offers free shipping!

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