Top shoe designer steps out in style in new market
If the name Manolo Blahnik is unfamiliar, perhaps the coveted pair of blue high heels used to propose to the protagonist Carrie Bradshaw in Sex and the City rings a bell.
Having graced the covers of magazines such as Vogue, Elle, and Tank numerous times, Manolo Blahnik is beloved by countless celebrities, including Jennifer Lawrence, Pamela Anderson, Carey Mulligan, and Rihanna. Even the luxury men's shoes he designs are revered by designers like Galliano as akin to "holy scripture''.
Now, this brand, hailed as royalty in luxury footwear, has finally made its debut in the Chinese mainland in Shanghai, after entering the Asian market in 1990 with the launch of a boutique store in Hong Kong.
Kristina Blahnik, the CEO of Manolo Blahnik and niece of the founder Manolo Blahnik, stated in an exclusive interview with China Daily, that it wasn't until the dinner event in Beijing in April, the brand's first event in Chinese mainland, that she realized they already had a strong community foundation here.
"There were about 40 guests, and at least eight of them, if not more, were wearing vintage Manolos that they had acquired throughout their lives," Kristina said, emphasizing the timeless essence of Manolo Blahnik.
"I want Manolo, that name and what it stands for, to exist forever beyond my lifetime. But also I want the shoes to embody aesthetic and quality so that it doesn't matter if you wear them 10 years later, they're still relevant," Kristina said.
