Pantofola d’Oro celebrates its 140th anniversary with a collaboration that feels both refined and forward-thinking. The historic Italian footwear brand has partnered with Milan-based SANGI to reinterpret one of its most recognizable performance silhouettes, the Superleggera 2.0, as a lifestyle sneaker designed for everyday wear.
Rooted in shared values of innovation, research, and Made in Italy craftsmanship, the collaboration brings together Pantofola d’Oro’s deep heritage in football culture and SANGI’s experimental design approach. The result is a shoe that captures the spirit of the pitch while translating it into a fashion-forward piece with a modern street sensibility.
The updated Superleggera 2.0 keeps the unmistakable DNA of a football boot, including its sleek profile and signature padded lines, yet shifts its identity toward a contemporary wardrobe essential. It’s a deliberate transformation that preserves the integrity of the original design while giving it new meaning beyond sport.
Founded in Milan by designer Pietro Franceschi, SANGI is known for operating as the world’s first Footwear Observatory, combining archival research, product experimentation, and cultural storytelling. In this collaboration, that research-driven perspective is applied directly to football footwear, treating the boot as an object of design history and modern style rather than purely performance equipment.
One of the most striking details of the shoe is its transparent sole, which features an impression inspired by the moment football studs meet the grass. This distinctive touch creates a visual link to the field while offering an unexpected, conceptual element that feels expressive and collectible. It’s a subtle nod to the origins of the silhouette, preserved in a way that makes the story visible with every step.
The collaboration also honors Pantofola d’Oro’s origins in Ascoli Piceno, where the brand’s founder, Emidio Lazzarini, established its reputation for comfort and craft. Over the decades, Pantofola d’Oro became renowned for producing exceptional football footwear, and its name itself carries a legacy. The brand is famously associated with Juventus top scorer John Charles, whose description of the shoes as more comfortable than slippers inspired the name Pantofola d’Oro, meaning “golden slipper.”
With this anniversary release, Pantofola d’Oro and SANGI present a design that speaks to tradition without being bound by it. The Superleggera 2.0 emerges as a modern lifestyle sneaker that merges performance heritage with contemporary fashion culture, celebrating Italian excellence through a lens that feels current, intentional, and beautifully executed.
