Within the world of designer sneakers, two brands seemed to have made a mark on celebrity street style over the past few years. We’re referring to the two Italian luxury brands, P448 and Golden Goose, which made dirty, distressed sneakers a fashion statement. So, P448 vs. Golden Goose?
We’d argue that the deliberately scuffed appearance became a thing with the rise of social media, the virality of surprising TikTok content, and the tendency of social media influencers to flock around anything worthy of posting.
When you combine these things with overpriced, overhyped sneakers that look like they’ve been hanging out at the local skate ramp, you get the newest trend everybody wants to try out.
With that out of the way, though, you can’t help but wonder whether there’s more to the renowned Super-Star and Ball Star Goolden Goose sneakers or the sought-after John Peakary and John Wilder P448 sneakers. Not to mention that you can’t help but wonder how a pair of sneakers can cause such a stir.
Whether you’re planning on getting your hands on one of these designer sneakers or trying to settle a debate on whether or not they’re worth the hype – we’ve got your back. We’re bringing you everything you need to know about P448 and Golden Goose sneakers right here, right now. Read more!
What are P448 sneakers?
We’re going to start with P448 sneakers because they’re the newest “must-have” footwear, unlike the Goolden Goose sneakers which we’ve been seeing everywhere for a few years now. P448, an Italian luxury footwear brand, was founded by Marco Samorè and Andrea Curti in 2014.
Pleasing to the eye, P448 sneakers snatched the fashionistas’ hearts and spread around the world within the first few years of business.
Despite an already-stuffed sneaker market, the high-quality craftsmanship, eye-catching designs, and durable materials made P448 sneakers stand out and withstand the test of time.
P448 was recently purchased by StreetTrend, an LLC with none other than Mark Wahlberg as a “strategic minority owner.” With everything going on, P448 managed to become a strong competitor to everyone’s favorite distressed sneaker brand, Golden Goose.
What are Golden Goose sneakers?
Golden Goose sneakers became popular when celebrities started wearing them everywhere.
We witnessed the likes of Selena Gomez, Taylor Swift, and even Joe Jonas sporting the scuffed, rugged sneakers on the regular and we couldn’t fathom the fact that dirty, dusty sneakers were “on trend.”
We didn’t know whether or not the A-listers were endorsed by Golden Goose, but we wanted to hop on the hype. Golden Goose sneakers started as a creation of two young Venetian designers by the names of Francesca Rinaldo and Alessandro Gallo.
Francesca and Alessandro were adamant about Golden Goose becoming a brand that attested to everything they’d been through together.
Golden Goose sneakers were meant to evoke memories with every scuff and mark – from different destinations and experiences to works of art and vintage pieces they encountered on the road.
Each and every Golden Goose sneaker was (and still is) handmade, manually painted, processed, constructed, and distressed by Golden Goose artisans.
Even though Golden Goose sneakers are some of the most expensive sneakers we’ve ever encountered, we’d argue that they’re worth the money for reasons we’re going to discuss down below.
P448 vs. Golden Goose: How do these two luxury Italian brands compare?
1. History
When you’re trying to choose between two brands, you might be drawn to one or the other based on what you uncover about the brands’ history. When was the brand started? Where? What made the brand stand out from the rest of the competition? We’re bringing you all that and more.
Golden Goose was started many, many years before P448 which means they’re the ones that came up with the entire “worn-out sneakers” trend. P448 followed suit and created unique sneakers that happen to resemble Golden Goose’s signature style.
We do need to mention that P448 produces a myriad of sneakers that look nothing like the signature Golden Gooses. Sneakers such as Vintage Havana, though, happen to be the closest lookalikes to authentic Golden Goose sneakers.
2. Appearance
Appearance-wise, P448 and Golden Goose sneakers share a shocking number of similarities. When we compare each brand’s best sellers, we can’t help but notice that they’re sporting a slightly distressed look with unique pops of colors and patterns.
Both brands are going for the designer sneaker market and coming out with styles that appeal to celebrities, influencers, and fashion-forward youngsters. Both are comfortable, wearable, and versatile. Both are made with high-quality, hard-wearing materials that promise to last a long time.
But, we do need to point out the obvious differences – P448 sneakers don’t come with the signature Golden Goose start or the staggering price point, sort of. P448 are super expensive, too, but they’re considered an affordable alternative when compared to Golden Goose sneakers.
3. Comfort and fit
Yes, yes, and yes!
With Golden Goose sneakers, you don’t have to worry about wasting your money on tight sneakers that give you blisters and bruises no matter what you do. Golden Goose sneakers are made with comfortable, breathable, and lightweight fabrics that guarantee to keep your feet happy and healthy.
P448 sneakers are the same – they’re made by hand by Italian craftsmen with exquisite attention to detail, padding around the strategic areas for comfort, and high-quality fabrics for breathability. Whatever you decide to do, there’s no question that you’re going to be content with how these two sneaker styles fit.
We can’t forget about the fact that both fit true to size which means you won’t face trouble trying to figure out which size to get. Word of advice – when you’re between sizes, always go for a size up as there are no half sizes.
4. Quality
Quality plays a huge part when we’re trying to decide whether or not to buy an overpriced, overhyped product we’ve seen on TikTok or Instagram. More often than not, we’re aided by the fact that these products don’t live up to the hype. What about P448 and Golden Goose sneakers, though?
We’re, by no means, saying you need to spend your money on sneakers that are worth more than your monthly groceries. But, we are saying that they’re worth the money, for the most part.
Both P448 and Golden Goose sneakers are handmade, produced with high-quality, not-easy-to-source fabrics, and unique, one-of-a-kind, designer sneakers.
Because of that, they’re not made for everyone – they’re made for people who can afford $500 or $1,000 sneakers. Whether or not you agree with the price, there’s no question that both brands produce high-quality, hard-wearing footwear.
5. Support and stability
P448 and Golden Goose sneakers are lifestyle sneakers which means they’re meant for everyday wear.
Whether you combine them with your favorite flowy dress when grabbing brunch with friends or a suit set when going to a meeting, you’re guaranteed to turn heads. When you’re on the hunt for support and stability, though, you might want to go for Adidas or Nike sneakers.
Golden Goose sneakers stretch and conform to your feet after a few wears, and P448s are comfortable straight out of the box. However, we wouldn’t say they’re supportive and stable enough for people suffering from foot-related problems.
With that out of the way, though, you can always wear your orthotics with them.
6. Breathability
P448 and Golden Goose sneakers are breathable, though. Starting with P448, these sneakers are made with lightweight fabrics that allow airflow, as well as a moisture-wicking terry cloth lining that offers breathability and comfort.
Golden Goose sneakers, on the other hand, are made with a mesh upper that provides your feet with a feeling of freshness throughout the day. Whichever brand you go for, you can count on the fact that they’re going to pay attention to the smallest of details to ensure you’re satisfied with your purchase.
7. Affordability
Golden Goose sneakers are expensive, there’s no question about that.
When you Google search “P448 vs. Golden Goose,” you’re going to be met with a myriad of articles arguing whether they’re worth the money. Golden Goose wins the battle here, though, considering they’re worth more than most people are willing to pay.
Now, the prices might vary, but the most expensive Golden Goose sneakers on the official website are priced at $2,275. Needless to say, the most expensive P448 sneakers are a bargain at $695.
Not to mention that the most expensive P448 sneakers are priced that way because they’re a part of the “Roller Skate” series. Average P448 sneakers are typically priced at $325. At the end of the day, you can get P448 sneakers for a fraction of the price compared to Golden Goose sneakers.
P448 vs. Golden Goose: How do you choose between the two?
Golden Goose sneakers are the OG scuffed sneakers and that’s something you need to consider when you’re trying to decide between the two. When you’re on the hunt for a fashion-forward, designer sneaker that’s going to attract attention, go for Golden Goose sneakers.
When you’re trying to stay on top of trends without breaking the bank, go for P448 sneakers. Whatever you decide to do, we’re keeping our fingers crossed you’re happy with your decision.
