Because the Spanish footwear model launches its Manolo’s Silhouettes capsule, Kristina Blahnik tells us about her lifelong love affair with sneakers and the way she’s shifting the Manolo Blahnik legacy ahead.
“I actually was born in a shoebox; one among my earliest recollections is from after I was about eight years previous, sitting on my uncle’s lap and watching him design sneakers,” recounts Kristina Blahnik. Whereas many people have performed gown up in our mom’s too-big-for-us heels, not many can say they’ve pranced round awkwardly in Blahniks—and positively not within the presence of the long-lasting designer himself. To Kristina, the 81-year-old Manolo Blahnik is greater than a style visionary — he’s her uncle and a paternal determine who imparted to her the values of craftsmanship, custom and creativity.
A former architect, Kristina unexpectedly pivoted into the household enterprise when she took over its manufacturing logistics for one season. On this lucky twist of occasions that sparked her ardour for the business, she proceeded to spend a number of years studying the whole lot in regards to the firm, and ultimately assumed the function as chief government officer in 2013.
Outfitted with a pointy enterprise acumen and a daring collaborative spirit, she appears to be like again on a number of the most fulfilling initiatives she’s spearheaded since being with the corporate. “Opening the pop-up at Liberty’s in 2010 was one of many craziest issues I’ve ever achieved. My structure observe designed it, and we made numerous particular merchandise for it—and all in simply 10 months,” she reveals. Different noteworthy partnerships over time embody a extremely coveted capsule with pop icon Rihanna, in addition to collections with Vetements and Birkenstock. Kristina has since steered the storied Spanish label right into a novel course— one which effortlessly fuses custom and innovation. “We prefer to experiment with new shapes and fabrications alongside the basic kinds that we provide. For me it’s all about taking our time and trusting our intestine emotions,” shares Kristina.
Only recently, the model unveiled its Manolo’s Silhouettes marketing campaign which shines the highlight again on its most timeless designs. The edit options six signature kinds: The BB, Maysale, Mary Jane, Chaos, Susa and Carolyne. When requested about her private favorite, Kristina picked the delicate Maysale, a low-heeled mule that has been worn by icons starting from Madonna to Marge Simpson. “I put on it just about in every single place—on walks, to work, to dinner. It simply suits so properly into my wardrobe,” she says.
This text first appeared on Elle Singapore.
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