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About Manolo Blahnik

WITH OVER 45 YEARS IN THE SHOE BUSINESS, MANOLO BLAHNIK HAS BECOME A HOUSEHOLD NAME, KNOWN FOR HIS SIGNATURE ICONIC STYLES, CELEBRITY COLLABORATIONS, HIS ARTISTIC SKETCHES AND NOT FORGETTING HIS INFECTIOUS CHARACTER, IT IS NO SURPRISE THAT MANOLO BLAHNIK IS THE ULTIMATE, ASPIRATIONAL BRAND FOR LUXURY SHOES. HIS SHOES HAVE SPELLBOUND AN INTERNATIONAL SET OF ADORING AND LOYAL DEVOTEES ACROSS THE GLOBE. BLAHNIK IS A CRAFTSMAN. TO THIS DAY HE MAKES A TRIP TO THE FACTORIES IN MILAN EVERY SEASON FOR A FEW WEEKS TO PERSONALLY BRING TO LIFE EVERY COLLECTION. ALL THE SHOES HE DEVELOPS ARE BASED ON HIS SKETCHES WHICH GET TRANSLATED INTO PROTOTYPES AT THE FACTORIES. THE EXQUISITELY SHAPED LASTS AND HEELS HE CREATES FOR HIS SHOES ARE STILL PERFECTED WITH HIS VERY OWN HANDS.THE FAIRY-TALE BEGAN BACK IN LATE 60’S IN THE BIG APPLE. AT THE TIME, NEW YORK WAS RENOWN FOR FUN, FROLICKING, STUDIO 54 AND ANDY WARHOL. NEW YORK WAS THE ULTIMATE PLACE TO BE, ANYONE WHO WAS ANYONE WAS IN NEW YORK. IT WAS THE CITY THAT NEVER SLEEPS WHERE MANOLO REALISED THE ENORMITY OF HIS POTENTIAL. IT WAS 1969, WHEN BUSINESSWOMAN PALOMA PICASSO, INTRODUCED A YOUNG MANOLO TO DIANA VREELAND, THE THEN EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF AMERICAN VOGUE. HE SHEEPISHLY PRESENTED HER WITH HIS SKETCHES AND DRAWINGS AND TO HIS MIRACULOUS SURPRISE, VREELAND LOVED THEM AND INSTINCTIVELY TOLD HIM, “FOCUS ON EXTREMITIES!” AND AS THEY SAY, THE REST WAS HISTORY.

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