Manolo Blahnik

Manolo Blahnik's name has become synonymous with beautifully crafter, highly desirable theatrical shoes that ooze originality, style and exuberance. for four decades his unique vision has held the fashion world spellbound. His design process begin with colour-rich sketchs that are so finely excuted they are often sough-after as the shoes themselves. Here you can peruse over 150 of these witty, seductive drawings.

Manolo Blahnik is one of the worlds most influence shoes designers, his career has spanned over 40 years.  His designs are known for being spell blinding, this has developed him a loyal followers across the globe.

During the 1970’s he meet Diana Vreeland, the then editor-in-chief for American Vogue, who encouraged him to stop being a set designer and concentrate on his show designs.

To study the craft of shoe design and production he visited shoe factories and talked to machine operators, pattern cutters and technicians, by 1971 he was making shoes and in 1973 he opened his first store in Chelsea. 

Manolo has won servile designs awards including,

Council of fashion designers of America

1987 – Special award

1997 - the stiletto

1990 - Accessory designer of the year

British fashion council

1990 – accessory designer of the year

1999 – accessory designer of the year

Manolo hates platform and hoped they never come back into fashion, his favorite designs are his shoes heels as the styles are always chagning but his most popular selling shoes are his slingbacks.

First shoes commisson, 1971 for  Ossie Clark.

Manolo uses his illustration as art works with serval book all about them.

On cushion, scarfs and bags, these products we made for the Libert pop up shop.

He now has stores across the globe including China, London, Germany, Japan, Korea, Kuwait, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Turkey, UK, USA.

New york

London

Dubia

During 2010 he also had a pop up store in Liberty London, this was a special event where for he designed shoes from Libertys prints, the store was open for 3 1/2 months. The stock inculded shoes, scarfs, cushion, chairs, books and cards.

Manolo also has books published that are didicated to his illustartions. He enjoyed doing the illustration for these books as he was able to sit and draw all day which has become a source of pleasure for him.

Manolo designed the shoes for the film Marie Antoinette. He was choosen by Miliena Canonero (who won an oscar for the costumes in the film" because Manolo creates characters with his shoes, the shoes are comfortable so can be worn all day while filming while still being beautiful and elegant designed. the shoes he designed for this movie have a sense of lightness, elegance and extravange as well as humour.

Manolos shoes have constandly been featured in Sex and the City by Carrie Bradshore (by 2000 he was a household name because her), who loves her shoes to the piont where she has spent over $40,000 on shoes. Has even been an espidoe about her love for her Manolos when a pair go missing. 
A Womans Right To Shoes

Manolo "I adore Ms. Parker. the character she has played has had such a role in my career - i cannot help but regard them both as muses!"

Manolo talent for creating flattering, feminine, sexy shoes. The heels are high, colours striking and materials diverse. As always the art is in the detail. 

The reason that I love Manolo shoes is that, they look like they belong in a fairy tale for a princess. Therefore letting the everyday woman start a transformation from ordinary into a glamorous princess or a sex siren for the night. Although i do find his illustration far more appealing then the shoes, but i think that is beacuse the drawing are limitless impossible where as the shoes are real and need to be worn so the heal cant be quite as high, the arch of the foot as curved.