The brand was accused of "poverty appropriation" back in 2016, when a dingy pair of sneakers went viral.
Lmao wait one minute pic.twitter.com/o97SzUqynI
— Bokeh Bob (@fka_nerdferg) August 27, 2016
Golden Goose wrote it off as "paying homage to the West Coast’s skater culture."
This time, however, it's even worse. The brand is selling a pair of "crumply, hold-it-all-together" taped sneakers, dubbed the Superstars, for a whopping $530 at Nordstrom.com.
we’ve already got a problem if any clothing description says “crumply, hold-it-all tape details a sneaker” but it’s even bigger when that sneaker costs $530!!!!!!!!1111!!!!!111!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/yngTTyVVQ2
— joon (@joonlee) September 19, 2018
"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," says the website's description of the sneakers.
The Superstar Taped Sneaker is part of a collection by the Venice-based label that features pre-worn soles and a "dirty" exterior. Yes, there's an entire line of these.
I just checked and apparently there’s a whole line. Like ok cool let’s mock poverty pic.twitter.com/WKhF15gRGG
— Eliza T. ⚰️???? (@lizalove91) September 19, 2018
The trend has sparked even more outrage online than it did two years ago. People on Twitter are disgusted with the brand, accusing them of "glorifying poverty."
there are people in the world wearing plastic bags as shoes because they can’t afford any but these HIDEOUS things are selling for $500 the fashion industry is truly so fucking stupid it pisses me off like what the actual hell ??????! https://t.co/8kOB37zyMJ
— Christine Sydelko (@csydelko) September 19, 2018
Many are reminiscing over their own experiences with poverty — specifically, wearing shoes that look exactly like these.
Finally!!! Being poor is cool!! I can finally fit in with all the classist kids that used to make fun of me in high school
— ???????????????????? ☁️ (@sierraplz) September 19, 2018
the people buying these shoes are the same people who bullied others in elementary school for wearing shoes that looked like them
— ???? (@17tshirt) September 19, 2018
okay maybe i’m being dramatic but i remember seeing kids getting harassed and made fun of endlessly in school for having shoes that looked like this. this is extremely distasteful. https://t.co/h3RAKmiY5d
— brooke???? (@broookedanielle) September 19, 2018
It's literally trendy to look impoverished. People would rather spend money to look broke for the sake of being interesting than help those fighting for survival because they can't access appropriate clothing.
— keanna ???? (@thicknhickory) September 19, 2018
Others took a more lighthearted approach, but still called the brand out for its distastefulness.
i think peak capitalism is selling shoes characteristic of those who can’t afford new ones for $530 https://t.co/CJuKEQSpgO
— JACB (@jacbmoore) September 19, 2018
Some even offered up their own worn-out sneakers to those who want a more affordable pair.
For Sale.......Make offer pic.twitter.com/VflMdBGFaM
— @RumAndDiabetes (@rumanddiabetes) September 20, 2018
Golden Goose has yet to respond to the recent backlash, but considering it's continued to renew the "distressed" sneaker line from season to season, they probably don't care.
Whether it's glorifying poverty, making a mockery of it, or just wanting to make a buck off the rich people who want to look poor (that's a thing, I guess) is unknown. But this is the world we live in, y'all.
The new fashion is wearing worn out looking shoes that include taped one that costs a bomb from $530 to $1340.
— Kumar Manish (@kumarmanish9) September 20, 2018
Glorifying poverty or making a mockery of poverty, can't decide. #fashionstyle #GoldenGoose pic.twitter.com/k8mxvchw4n
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