Manolo Blahnik brand history. Beautiful female legs in Manolo Blahnik shoes

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Manolo Blahnik is a famous British brand specializing in the production of women's shoes. The founder is Manolo Blahnik.

Biography of the founder

Brand founder - Manolo Blahnik

Manolo Blahnik was born on November 28, 1942 in the Canary Islands in the town of Santa Cruz de la Palma. From early childhood, Blahnik showed an interest in shoes, often making shoes for his plush toys. He himself preferred espadrilles - the shoes that most local residents wore. However, Manolo decorated them with coins, pebbles and shells. After graduating from school, the young man entered the University of Geneva, where he studied literature. Some time later, Blahnik quit his studies and moved to Paris, where he became a student at the College of Fine Arts. A year later, the future designer moved to London.

Shoes from Manolo Blahnik

Already in 1971, Manolo created his first collection for the show of English designer Ozzy Clark, but it was not entirely successful, since the heels on all models were unstable. In the same year, the aspiring fashion designer developed a new model of open sandals with green straps, which were stylized as cherry berries. In 1972, Blahnik created a collection of geta (sandals made of wood, bench-shaped, held on the feet with straps passing between the big and second toes) especially for the Japanese brand Yohji Yamamoto.

The emergence of the brand and its history

Coca Cola bottle design by Manolo Blahnik

In 1973, the fashion designer officially registered the Manolo Blahnik brand, and he invited his sister Evangelia as an assistant. That same year, he bought a small store where he began selling his own products. In 1974, Manolo created pop art style shoes for Italian journalist and Vogue editor Anna Piaggi. In 1976, after visiting the Solomon Guggenheim Museum in New York, the designer developed a new shoe model with two ankle straps.

Low boots from Manolo Blahnik

In 1979, Manolo Blahnik introduced the Gruyere shoes, which have a high instep but no heel. A year later, the “Algeria” model of suede shoes with pom-poms appeared. In 1981, the brand developed pointed ankle boots decorated with fur trim, and in 1982, Avion sandals with metal buckles and straps. Two years later, a model of sandals appeared, decorated with eight metal rings.

In the early 1990s, Blahnik created the classic pointed-toe stiletto pumps, which later became the hallmark of the brand. In 1995, the company introduced a collection of elegant women's shoes with closed toe mules, decorated with pearls. A year later, a new model of snow-white mules appeared, decorated with multi-colored beads. In 1997, the designer created a collection of “Masai” sandals for the Christian Dior show. In 1998, the name of the famous shoe designer was heard more than once by Sarah Jessica Parker when she starred in the TV series Sex and the City. In the tape, the actress expressed her feelings of love for shoes from Manolo Blahnik, and every time she dreamed of buying a new pair of treasured shoes. In one episode, during a robbery, she said: “You can take my purse, my ring and watch, but don’t take my Manolo Blahnik shoes!”

In 2000, the brand presented to the public a model of shoes with an open heel and a pointed toe, called “Tortura”. In 2005, the designer created a collection of shoes for Sofia Coppola’s film “Marie Antoinette”, and also, together with the Coca-Cola company, developed a bottle design . In 2009, Blahnik presented his version of the same red shoes worn by the heroine Eli from the cartoon “The Wizard of Oz,” and two years later he modeled wedding shoes for the main character of the film “Twilight.” Saga. Dawn".

Sarah Jessica Parker wearing Manolo Blahnik shoes

Present days

In 2011, the Manolo Blahnik company, together with the jewelry brand TOUS, developed a collection of jewelry called Manolo Blahnik for TOUS, which included pendants in the form of a shoe on a chain, made in four versions: gold, gold with diamond, silver and gilded silver.

Currently, the brand is actively developing. The shoe factory is located in an Italian town

Manolo Blahnik was born in 1943 in the Canary Islands in the city of Santa Cruz. His father was Czech and his mother was Spanish. From a very young age, he had a passion for shoes, as he tried to make shoes for his pet monkey and pet dog. He loved to wear ordinary rope shoes - espadrilles, which most local residents of the Canary Islands wore at that time. But little Manolo turned these ordinary shoes into designer ones, decorating them with everything he could get his hands on: glass, coins, shells and pebbles.

Manolo Blahnik Fall/Winter 2014/15

When the boy was 12 years old, his family moved to the mainland and he was sent to school in Geneva. After school, he entered the university, where he studied literature, but did not stay there long. He was bored, and the young man moved to Paris. Here Manolo gets a job in an antique salon and becomes a student at the Paris School of Fine Arts. But soon he leaves the fashion capital and moves to London, where he also attends lectures on art.

At first, Manolo saw his future in designing for film and theater. But the constant noise and the large number of people with whom he had to communicate weighed on him.

The combination of a comfortable last and high heel is a distinctive feature of the Manolo Blahnik brand. The sketches are made by Manolo himself, without trusting this process to anyone. He's not trying to make his shoes cheaper or more widespread to meet demand. He himself cuts out the last and heel according to his sketch, checking everything clearly, so that later the owner of these shoes feels great in them. And then, having selected the material and color for the future masterpiece, he sends it to production. His factory produces no more than 90 pairs of shoes per day, since the complexity of the design requires manual labor. These volumes are quite small compared to other shoe manufacturers. Therefore, in order to get your hands on Manolo Blahnik shoes, you have to look for them.

Manolo gained fame in the 90s, after working with Dior, John Galliano, Calvin Klein and Yves Saint Laurent. In addition, his shoes were awarded the title of “fifth star” of the series “Sex and the City.”

His classic style is defined by his love of tradition. He creates his shoes for women who dream of looking great always and everywhere. Manolo does not chase fashion trends, without expecting it, he becomes a trendsetter in women's shoes. His shoes remained and remain timeless and are designed to emphasize femininity.

Currently, Manolo Blahnik boutiques are located in almost all parts of the world. They are located in the USA, Korea, Hong Kong, England, Spain, Turkey, Singapore, Korea, Kuwait and Moscow. Among the brand's fans are such famous women as Madonna, Kylie Minogue, Sarah Jessica Parker, Naomi Campbell and many others.

Manolo Blahnik shoes have been worn forever and everywhere, starting with Bianca Jagger, Mick's wife, appearing at the iconic Studio 54 on a white horse. Sarah Jessica Parker wore their creations not only in her role as Carrie Bradshaw in the Sex and the City series, but also in real life. Among the fans of sophisticated feminine silhouettes are Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, Princess Diana and. It all started when the young designer Manolo Blahnik met with the famous fashion designer Ossie Clark, who asked him to create a shoe collection. Since then, the company has been at the top for more than 40 years.

Manolo Blahnik's first success

Manolo Blahnik was raised by wealthy parents who wanted their son to be a diplomat. He studied at the University of Geneva, where he focused his studies on law, art history and literature. But after he completed his degree and moved to Paris in the mid-1960s, Manolo began exploring the world of design. He was lucky enough to meet the editor-in-chief of U.S Vogue Diana Vreeland, who immediately told him: “Young man, make things, make accessories, make shoes.”

Diana admired his shoe sketches and advised him to focus on designing shoes. This led to his first collaboration with Ossie Clark. Although the shoes were not commercially successful, the press noticed their originality. Blahnik didn't know how to work with the shoe's structure, so he began consulting with London craftsmen to eliminate flaws in the design.

Manolo Blahnik shoes

In the 1970s, Manolo Blahnik shoes became the most talked about shoes. The designer presented an exclusive line for the American store Bloomingdale's and soon opened his own store in New York. The brand became responsible for the way women are obsessed with shoes today.

"He took footwear to the next level," says designer Patrick Cox. “He led the world straight to Louboutin and its red soles, as well as Jimmy Choos and twisty shoe designs. Everyone follows on his heels, but we are all children compared to him. Manolo Blahnik is an artist."

The graceful shapes and heels that Manolo Blahnik offers are still perfected by the master himself. The lines and silhouettes of his designs remain instantly recognizable as unique, one-of-a-kind creations with precision and balance, complemented by luxurious materials. The designer always keeps a couple of each project. They sit in closets that fill two houses. There are several main categories of the most famous models:

BB - shoes without unnecessary details with a high straight heel, named after Brigitte Bardot.

Hangisi is an elegant silhouette, embellished with a precious buckle. Manolo says the shoes took inspiration from Napoleon I, his wife Josephine and sister Pauline Bonaparte.

Swan is a name that speaks for itself. A swan wing in the form of precious crystals envelops the shoes.

Campari is a new iteration of the iconic strappy shoe called the Mary-Jane. Carrie Bradshaw adored them. The shoe, which was created in 1994 and has not been available in London since, is also a favorite of Kate Moss.

Chaos Sandal is a style icon chosen by celebrities for their red carpet looks. High-heeled sandals fasten at the ankle.

The designer uses only the best leather and suede as materials. The outer side of the Manolo Blahnik shoes is covered in thin calfskin, while the inner lining is made of cow or sheep leather. Bright silhouettes are also created from silk.

Collaborations with Manolo Blahnik

Today, the brand’s assortment includes not only shoes, but also ankle boots, as well as winter boots. For lovers of extravagant outfits, Manolo Blahnik created boots decorated with prints or straps. There are also men's shoes, socks, belts and bags.

The brand continues to reign in modern fashion, despite the abundance and popularity of sneakers. With Rihanna, who is known for her work with Puma, they released a feminine line called "So Stoned". The 2017 collection includes gladiator sandals that include straps placed from the ankle to the knee. In addition to bright designs, classic shoes, ankle boots and sandals, decorated with intricate patterns, were presented.

With the Lorod brand they created a collection inspired by the colorful style of the 1950s. In a nod to the tumultuous 1990s that currently dominate fashion weeks, Manolo Blahnik has teamed up with Spain's Castañer.

Another memorable work was the collaboration with. The brand, founded by the current creative director of the fashion house, proposed to update the boots and shoes, made of silk and complemented by Manolo's iconic signature. Vibrant shades like red, green, purple and classic black shone during Paris Fashion Week and were later made available for order. The collection sold out almost instantly.

Official website of Manolo Blahnik

The brand and Manolo himself have repeatedly received awards in recognition of his status as one of the most successful and influential designers of our time. The London Design Museum opened a major exhibition of his work in 2003. The collection features “some of the best sketches Blahnik uses at the beginning of the design process. They are as desirable as the shoes themselves.”

On the official website you can find out about new arrivals and read what inspired the master when creating each pair of shoes. The creations come with descriptions and quotes from the designer. A special exhibition section alerts Manolo Blahnik fans to upcoming events taking place around the world.