Manolo Blahnik facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Manolo Blahnik
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Manolo Blahnik in Prague in 2017
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Manuel Blahnik Rodríguez
27 November 1942 Santa Cruz de La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain
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| Alma mater | University of Geneva |
| Occupation | Fashion designer |
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Label(s)
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Manolo Blahnik |
Manuel "Manolo" Blahnik Rodríguez (born November 27, 1942) is a famous Spanish fashion designer. He is best known for creating his own brand of luxury shoes for women.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Manolo Blahnik was born in the Canary Islands of Spain. His father was from the Czech Republic and his mother was Spanish. His father's family had left their home in the 1930s to escape a political movement called fascism.
Blahnik's mother's family owned a banana farm on the island of La Palma. This is where he and his sister, Evangelina, grew up. He was taught at home when he was young. Later, he went to a boarding school in Switzerland.
His parents hoped he would become a diplomat, a person who represents their country abroad. They sent him to the University of Geneva to study Politics and Law. But Blahnik was more interested in art. He changed his studies to Literature and Architecture.
After graduating in 1965, he moved to Paris. There, he studied art at the famous École des Beaux-Arts and set design at the Louvre Art School. He also worked at a shop that sold old-fashioned clothing.
Starting a Career in Fashion
In 1969, Blahnik moved to London. He worked as a buyer for a fashion store called "Feathers." He also wrote for L’Uomo Vogue, an Italian men's fashion magazine.
A big moment for Blahnik happened in 1969 when he visited New York City. He met Diana Vreeland, who was the powerful editor of the American Vogue magazine. He showed her his drawings of clothing and stage sets.
Vreeland was very impressed with his shoe sketches. She told him, "Young man, make things, make accessories, make shoes." Blahnik took her advice and decided to focus all his energy on designing shoes.
First Steps as a Shoe Designer
In 1971, a designer named Ossie Clark asked Blahnik to make shoes for his fashion show. Soon, other famous London designers like Jean Muir and Zandra Rhodes also wanted his shoes.
With a loan of £2,000, Blahnik bought a shoe store called Zapata and opened his own shop. In 1974, he became only the second man to ever appear on the cover of the British Vogue magazine.
Blahnik's brand grew quickly. In 1977, he designed his first collection for America, which was sold at the Bloomingdales department store. He opened his first store in the United States in 1979. Today, his main store is still on Old Church Street in London.
Inspiration and Style
One of Blahnik's biggest inspirations was his mother. She loved fashion and would make her own clothes based on trends she saw in magazines. She was never happy with the shoes sold in their town, so she learned how to make her own from a local shoemaker.
As a boy, Blahnik loved watching his mother create beautiful shoes from fabrics like brocade and satin. He remembers finding a chest full of elegant shoes made from silks and lace. These light and feminine shoes inspired the style he would later become famous for.
What Makes His Shoes Special?
Blahnik never went to a special school to learn how to make shoes. Instead, he learned by visiting shoe factories. He talked to the workers and learned every step of the process.
He first designed shoes for men but found it wasn't creative enough. He switched to women's shoes, where he could use his imagination. In the 1970s, most popular shoes had thick, heavy platform soles. Blahnik brought back the thin, elegant stiletto heel, which became his signature style. He is not a fan of wedge heels because he believes high heels are more powerful and stylish.
Awards and Recognition
Blahnik's work has earned him many awards. He has been named Accessory Designer of the Year and Shoe Designer of the Year multiple times.
In 1987, he was added to the International Best Dressed List Hall of Fame. In 2007, Queen Elizabeth II made him an honorary Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE). This was to honor his work in the British fashion industry.
Blahnik now lives in Bath, England. In 2012, he received an honorary degree from Bath Spa University.
Manolo Blahnik in Film
A movie was made about Blahnik's life in 2017. It is called Manolo: The Boy Who Made Shoes for Lizards. The film was written and directed by Michael Roberts.
See also
In Spanish: Manolo Blahnik para niños
