Manolo Blahnik was born in Santa Cruz on Canary Islands to a Czech father and Spanish mother, who had a passion for satin, brocade fabrics, and had her shoes custom-made by the island’s best shoemaker. Manolo’s love for shoes began later, when he saw a trunk of antique shoes made of silk, brocade, and lace in Cluny museum in Paris.
Manolo Blahnik studied Renaissance history and art in the University of Geneva and the University of Paris. His fashion career began in Feathers Boutique in London, where he was a buyer of denim collections, and finally Blahnik’s portfolio of theatrical designs reached legendary photographer Sir Cecil Beaton. But it was Diane Vreeland of American Vogue who encouraged Manolo Blahnik to concentrate on shoemaking.
Fashion of 1970s, and mini-skirts in particular, called for the new kind of shoes – bolder and brighter, with extravagant details. Feet were in vogue, and Blahnik was there to embrace this new spirit. In 1973 he opened his own boutique called “Zapata”
The style of Manolo Blahnik is instantly recognizable. A lightweight and elegant outline of his stilettos does not change at the first wink of fashion; instead, his designs complement all the major fashion trends impeccably. Even with 11-inch heels,
Manolo's are incredibly comfortable and lightweight, shaping the leg to the perfection. Manolo Blahnik’s philosophy of fashion is that it should be always fun, and his designs in leather, suede, velvet, silks and even fur reflect that. Over years Manolo Blahnik designed shoe collections for Yves Saint Laurent, Emmanuel Ungaro, Calvin Klein, Fiorucci, Isaac Mizrahi and Bill Blass. Like many true originators, Manolo Blahnik is a successful designer in other fields, for example, he designs furniture and accessories with the same ease as he creates his shoe masterpieces.
Blahnik's shoes are popular among celebrities and royalty. Madonna once described shoes designed by Blahnik as "better than sex" and added that, "what's more, they last longer". Blahnik, known for a wit as sharp as the heels he is famous for making, simply responded: "You have to admire her, she hides her lack of talent so well”. Even Marge Simpson wore a pair of his mules during a 1991 episode of The Simpsons. Later,
manolos became even better known when Blahnik’s designs were featured in Absolutely Fabulous and Sex And The City series. In addition to that, Manolo Blahnik designs furniture.
An artisan with an impeccable eye for detail, Blahnik plays the major part in the creation of his designs, from the initial sketches to creating his own advertising campaigns, which always feature his drawings. Yet, his business is remarkably small with only one shop in London and a second boutique in New York. Manolo Blahnik holds an Award from Fashion Council of America (1988), American Leather Award (1991), Balenciaga Award (1991), and Hispanic Institute Antonio Lopez Award (1991). Named Accessory Designer of the Year by the British Fashion Council in 1990 and 1999, Blahnik also has honorary doctorates from the Royal London College of Art and the Royal Society of Arts of Britain.
When Carrie Bradshaw, the shoe-loving central character of the HBO TV series Sex And The City, found herself and face-to-face with a mugger on one of New York’s grungier side streets, “Please sir,” she pleaded. “You can take my Fendi baguette, you can take my ring and my watch, but don’t take my Manolo Blahniks.”
Manolo Blahnik shoes in Toronto:
BROWNS @ Holt Renfrew
50 Bloor St West
Toronto, ON
(416) 960-4925
Manolo Blahnik 
