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 27 November 1942) is a famous Spanish fashion designer. He created his own high-end shoe brand, which is named after him.
Contents
Manolo Blahnik's Life Story
Manolo Blahnik was born in Santa Cruz de la Palma. This is a city in the Canary Islands, which are part of Spain. His father was from the Czech Republic. His mother was Spanish. His father left his home country in the 1930s. He wanted to avoid the rise of a strict political idea called fascism. Manolo's grandparents disappeared in the 1950s. This happened after Communists took control of their country.
Manolo grew up on his mother's family banana plantation. He lived there with his sister, Evangelina. 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. So, they sent him to the University of Geneva. He started studying Politics and Law there. However, Manolo decided to change his studies. He chose Literature and Architecture instead.
In 1965, Manolo finished his degree. He then moved to Paris, France. He studied art at the École des Beaux-Arts. He also learned about designing stage sets at the Louvre Art School. While studying, he worked in a shop that sold old clothes. In 1969, he moved to London, England. He worked as a buyer for a fashion shop called "Feathers." He also wrote for L’Uomo Vogue. This was an Italian magazine for men's fashion.
Starting His Shoe Design Career
In 1969, Manolo Blahnik visited New York. He met Diana Vreeland there. She was the main editor of U.S. Vogue magazine. He showed her his drawings of fashion and stage designs. Ms. Vreeland looked at his shoe sketches. She told him, "Young man, make things, make accessories, make shoes." She advised him to focus on designing footwear. Manolo took her advice and started designing shoes.
In 1971, a designer named Ossie Clark asked Manolo to make shoes for his fashion show. Manolo also designed shoes for other London fashion designers. These included Jean Muir and Zandra Rhodes. By 1971, he was selling his shoes under the "Manolo Blahnik" name for a company called Zapata. He borrowed £2,000. With this money, he bought the Zapata Shoe Company. He then opened his very own shoe shop. In 1974, Manolo Blahnik made history. He became only the second man to be on the cover of U.K. Vogue magazine.
Expanding His Brand
In 1977, Manolo Blahnik created his first collection for America. These shoes were sold in 1978 at Bloomingdales stores. In 1979, he opened his first shop in the United States.
The main Manolo Blahnik store is still in Old Church Street in the Chelsea area of London. You can find Manolo Blahnik shops in many cities around the world. These include New York, Geneva, Madrid, Tokyo, and more. Big department stores like Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus also sell his shoes in the United States. The company has also partnered with a shoe retailer called Kurt Geiger. They help run the Manolo Blahnik shops.
In 2000, Manolo Blahnik worked with Neiman Marcus. They launched the first online virtual reality showroom for shoes. You could see 3D models of his shoes. All the shoes in this online collection sold out in just three weeks!
Manolo Blahnik was added to the International Best Dressed List Hall of Fame in 1987. In 2007, he received a special honor. He was made an honorary Commander of the Order of the British Empire. This was for his important work in the British fashion world.
Manolo Blahnik lives in Bath, United Kingdom. He received an honorary degree from Bath Spa University in July 2012.
How Manolo Blahnik Developed His Style
Manolo Blahnik's mother was one of his biggest inspirations. She loved to read fashion magazines. She would then use the latest trends to make her own clothes. Manolo and his family often traveled to Paris and Madrid. They would go there to order clothes. His mother was never happy with the shoes from their hometown. So, she started making her own shoes.
She learned the basics of making shoes from a local Canary Island cobbler. When Manolo was a boy, he loved watching his mother make beautiful shoes. He learned to love fancy fabrics like brocade and satin from her. He remembers finding a trunk full of shoes by a famous designer named Pierre Yantorny. These shoes were made from silks, old lace, and brocades. They had delicate buckles. They were light, elegant, and feminine. Manolo later brought these same qualities to his own shoe designs.
When Manolo Blahnik was at university, he lived with his aunt and uncle. His aunt greatly influenced his fashion sense and style. She helped him learn to appreciate luxury, art, and beauty. Manolo remembers his aunt saying that "happiness was having the single most elegant handbag ever made, in every color available."
Manolo Blahnik's Shoes
Manolo Blahnik never went to a special school for shoemaking. He learned his skills by visiting shoe factories. He talked to people who cut patterns, technicians, and machine operators. At first, he designed shoes for men. But he quickly found that designing men's shoes limited his ideas. It didn't have enough fashion elements for him. So, he decided to focus on women's shoes.
In the 1970s, many shoes were chunky and had thick platform soles. Manolo Blahnik brought back the sleek, thin stiletto heel. His designs are known for being elegant and stylish.
Film and Awards
Film About Manolo Blahnik
Manolo Blahnik is the main person in a 2017 documentary film. It is called Manolo: The Boy Who Made Shoes for Lizards. The film was written and directed by Michael Roberts.
Awards and Honours
Manolo Blahnik has received many awards for his work in fashion.
- Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA)
- 1987: Special Award
- 1990: Accessory Designer of the Year
- 1997: The Stiletto
- British Fashion Council
- 1999: Accessory Designer of the Year
- 1990: Accessory Designer of the Year
- Other Honours
- 1998: Shoe Designer of the Year from Footwear News
- 2003: Shoe Designer of the Year from Footwear News
- 2007: Honorary CBE from HM Queen Elizabeth II
- 2011: The SCAD (Savannah College of Art and Design) Andre Leon Talley Lifetime Achievement Award
- 2011: A Lifetime Achievement Award from Footwear News
- 2016: Honorary doctorate from the Universidad de La Laguna
- 2017: Ranked #25 best dressed man alive by Esquire magazine
- 2018: Luxury Legend Award by Walpole British Luxury Awards
See also
In Spanish: Manolo Blahnik para niños
