Celebrated for transformative statement footwear that accentuates femininity, Manolo Blahnik started creating shoes in 1971 under the encouragement of Diana Vreeland, then Vogue’s editor-at-large, who saw his sketches and recognized his potential.
Based in London, the house has remained a luxury mainstay for glamorous and sophisticated footwear since it’s conception. Blahnik found his calling at a young age through his mother’s exquisite custom shoe collection, which she learned to make from a local cobbler in the Canary Islands, where he was born. After moving to Paris for his academic studies, his aunt exposed him to the beauty luxury and art had to offer. Influenced by the refinement of brocade, satin, and silk, these became signatures in his designs of tantalizing silhouettes and are still evident in Blahnik’s classic styles.
Established | Location | Artistic director |
1971 | London | Manolo Blahnik |