Designing meaning into everything he does, Marco Simonetti has turned his studio, RAL7000, into a locus of experimentation within the global footwear design landscape. Born and raised in Italy’s Marche region, a cradle of craftsmanship, and trained at Polimoda in Florence, Simonetti has spent nearly two decades bridging tradition and technology, artisan know-how and industrial precision. Through collaborations with brands like Adidas Originals, Fear of God, and Nike Jordan, he’s defined a new footwear design language where shoes act as architecture for the body—sculptural, performative, and deeply human.
For hube, he reflects on building a shared language with brands, the emotional weight of design, and how RAL7000 continues to expand beyond footwear into sound, storytelling, and new cultural legacies.
h: What first drew you into footwear specifically? Do you see shoes as a natural extension of architecture, sculpture, or even performance?
MS: What first drew me into footwear was the realization that a shoe is never just an accessory. It’s where function and expression collide. Growing up in the Marche region, surrounded by artisans, and later traveling extensively to China, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Brazil for product development, I came to understand that shoes are not only designed, they’re engineered. They must support the body, enhance the wearing experience, and perform while also serving as one of the most personal forms of self-expression. After all, everyone chooses how to present themselves to the world, starting from their shoes.
For me, footwear lives at the crossroads of disciplines: the structure of architecture, the sensuality of sculpture, and the dynamism of performance. A shoe shapes the way we move, but it also tells the world who we are. That constant balance between utility and identity, heritage and innovation, is what keeps me endlessly fascinated and why footwear remains my chosen language of design.
h: Has there been a project that felt like a true turning point, something that pushed you into new territory, maybe even intimidated you at first?
MS: There have been two projects that I consider true turning points in my nearly twenty-year career. The first came in the early 2010s, when I was just beginning in footwear consultancy. MSGM—the contemporary Italian fashion brand founded by Massimo Giorgetti in partnership with Paoloni Group—entrusted me with building its newly launched footwear division. Leading both design and development, while mobilizing my network of suppliers and factories globally, was an intimidating responsibility at that stage of my career, but it became an incredible opportunity to grow and strengthen my management skills.
The second, in 2021, was the Adidas Originals x RAL7000STUDIO collaboration. That project represented a decisive leap in both scale and visibility, giving my partners Michael Cutini, Mattias Gollin (formerly co-founder) and me the opportunity to formally establish RAL7000STUDIO. Working with such an iconic brand challenged us to bring together creativity, innovation, and technical excellence at the highest level. It wasn’t just about designing sneakers. It was about translating a global identity into a product while staying true to our studio’s DNA. The experience pushed us to refine our methods, expand our network, and demonstrate that an independent design studio from the Marche region could successfully operate on a truly international stage.
Both projects pushed me far outside my comfort zone, tested my limits, and ultimately became milestones that not only accelerated my professional growth but also crystallized the vision and identity of the studio I lead today.
