Manolo Blahnik

The name Manolo Blahnik is associated with luxurious shoes, but his becoming one of the world's most famous shoe designers was entirely coincidental. From being born and raised on a banana plantation in the Canary Islands, he moved to Paris to study art. Here, he was encouraged to start designing shoes in 1969, and in 1971, the brand Manolo Blahnik was born. He is known for iconic creations that are combinations of sophistication and glamour, and he never follows trends. His shoes are known for being eye-catching, like jewelry on the foot, grabbing attention.

Blahnik draws his inspiration from fashion trends of, among others, the 17th and 18th centuries, such as pilgrim buckles and shoe silhouettes inspired by Napoleon I, Josephine, and Pauline Bonaparte. More recently, Blahnik has made a name for himself with his Hangisi shoe model from 2008, as seen in the TV series Sex and The City, which has since become an iconic party and wedding shoe. With his fascination for femininity, he creates sophisticated shoes that suit any occasion.