Kristina Blahnik is the niece of the founder Manolo Blahnik. She originally worked in the construction industry and joined Manolo Blahnik in 2009 to help her uncle manage the brand. This time, Kristina shared with L'OFFICIEL her memories of her and her uncle, the brand positioning, and even her favourite shoes to wear.

Every woman has her own wish list for high <a href="https://www.lofficielibiza.com/fashion/must-have-slingback-heels-to-shop-2024" target="_blank" rel="noopener">heels</a>. Are the works of legendary shoe designer <a href="https://www.lofficielibiza.com/fashion/dive-into-the-archives-of-manolo-blahnik-with-an-immersive-experience" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Manolo Blahnik</a> on your wish list? Born in Spain, Manolo Blahnik is known as the "King of Shoes". He opened his first store in London, England in 1971. His works have been loved by royal family members, celebrities and fashion gurus for many years. Therefore, Manolo Blahnik's status in the fashion circle is unquestionable.
Kristina Blahnik is the niece of the founder Manolo Blahnik. She originally worked in the construction industry and joined Manolo Blahnik in 2009 to help her uncle manage the brand. This time, Kristina shared with L'OFFICIEL her memories of her uncle, the brand's positioning, and even her favourite shoes to wear.

L'OFFICIEL: Can you share your memory of your first encounter with Manolo Blahnik?
Kristina Blahnik: There is a story I haven't shared with you. In fact, the first Manolo item I owned was not a pair of shoes, but a handbag. When I was 6 years old, my family and I moved to England. After school, I would always go to my uncle's shop and do homework upstairs, while my mother and uncle were busy handling all matters related to the shop downstairs. When I finished my homework, I would brush all the suede shoes in the store and arrange them neatly. This small task earned me a reward of 10 pence every week.
I remember there was an envelope bag in the store at the time, which cost 50 pounds. Although its design was quite simple, it made me fall in love with it at the age of 6. So I worked hard and saved my pocket money every week. Finally, I bought this handbag, my first Manolo handbag, and I saved money to buy it!

L'OFFICIEL: What made you switch from the construction industry to lead this classic brand?
Kristina Blahnik: This was not my original plan. My mother, uncle and family always encouraged me to do what I like. I love art and mathematics. At the age of 17, I aspired to be an architect, so I studied architecture and later founded my own company. During this period, I also helped design Manolo Blahnik stores. When I was in my thirties, I thought about what path I would take next. It happened that one season my uncle was unable to visit the factory to handle shoe production matters, so I decided to temporarily put down my architectural work to assist him. Later, I spent six or seven years to truly recognize my goals and ambitions, and I also believe that this is the arrangement of fate. As the second-generation sustenance of the brand, inheritance is very important to me. I am here to uphold the design and craftsmanship that our family insists on without compromise.

L'OFFICIEL: How would you describe the Manolo Blahnik brand? How is it different from other luxury shoe brands on the market?
Kristina Blahnik: We are independent and have the autonomy to make decisions. Because Manolo Blahnik only has my uncle and my mother as shareholders, and no other shareholders, and we have never invested or taken out loans. As the brand has always been independently developed, we have a unique market position and do not compete with other groups. We have always focused on doing our best and maintaining our own creativity, aesthetics, tradition, culture, history, and quality.

A photo of a Manolo Blahnik store in New York in the 1980s. (Photo credit: Getty Images)

L'OFFICIEL: How do you preserve the tradition of Manolo Blahnik while taking the brand forward?
Kristina Blahnik: We are proud of Manolo Blahnik's classic shoes, and we will always keep them. For example, Carolyne is almost 40 years old, Campari is 30 years old this year, and BB Pump will be 20 years old in a few years. These simple silhouettes are the timeless designs we pursue. However, timelessness and creativity are equally important. A picture or a small detail in a painting can become the inspiration for a series, inspiring us to inject new creativity into existing models, so those designs from the 1980s are still not outdated today.

L'OFFICIEL: Which shoe model do you like best in the Manolo Blahnik collection?
Kristina Blahnik: My favourite is the Maysale series, which was launched in 1990 and is 34 years old this year. I wear the Pump version most often, and I also wear flat shoes and the 5cm version. In daily life, I often wear the Maysale series to different places, such as walking the dog, going to work, and even walking around on rainy days. But in addition to Maysale, I also like to wear Carolyne recently, because a pair of Carolyne can be matched with 5 sets of different styles of clothing.

An interview with Kristina Blahnik, CEO of Manolo Blahnik, on creating timeless elegance

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