Manolo Blahnik

If you are lucky enough to acquire a pair of Manolo Blahnik shoes, it may be difficult to decide whether to hang them on the wall or to wear them. While you will most likely choose to wear them, many consider these designer shoes to truly be works of art. The story of Manolo Blahnik's career is also quite compelling. In the early '70s, Manolo Blahnik was living in London. He made many friends in the high fashion circuit as he was working as a photographer. He had ideas about designing sets for the theatre and his friend, Paloma Picasso, introduced him to the chief editor of Vogue in New York, Diana Vreeland. She urged him to show her some of his sketches, but she was most impressed by the shoes the characters were wearing in them. She suggested that he design shoes.After spending a couple of years designing shoes for the catwalk shows of some of the world's leading designers, such as Calvin Klein, Joe Galliano and Yves Saint Laurent, Manolo Blahnik opened his own shoe boutique in London in 1973. From the beginning, Manolo Blahnik shoes have been among the favorite designer choices of celebrities and even royalty. Manolo Blahnik is solely responsible for all of his designs, as he sketches every single one of his shoe creations and personally creates every prototype by hand. He then supervises every aspect from production to final illustrations and advertising campaigns. All Manolo Blahnik shoes--from pumps and stilettos to heels and boots--display his signature style; when you see Manolo Blahnik shoes, you know it.

This domain was previously held for the sale of alleged counterfeit Manolo Blahnik products. Control of this domain has been transferred to Manolo Blahnik, the rightful owner of the Manolo Blahnik trademarks, pursuant to a temporary court order. Manolo Blahnik International Limited took this action to protect the Manolo Blahnik brand and the consumer from unknowingly purchasing counterfeit products. The websites listed in the complaint are not affiliated with the genuine Manolo Blahnik brand. Manolo Blahnik International Limited and its counsel cannot provide any additional information regarding any orders placed with any of the websites.

Notice to Defendants Manolo Blahnik International Limited v. The Partnerships and Unincorporated Associations Identified on Schedule “A”; Case No. 14-cv-1413 The defendants operating the Defendant Internet Stores listed in Schedule A to the Complaint are hereby advised: Plaintiff has charged Defendants with violations of United States federal and state laws prohibiting trademark infringement and counterfeiting. A copy of the Complaint and other legal documents may be obtained from Plaintiff’s attorney, Greer, Burns & Crain, Ltd., attorney Blahnik was born and raised in the Canary Islands. His Czech father’s family owned a pharmaceutical firm in Prague, and his Spanish mother’s family owned a banana plantation in the island city of Santa Cruz de la Palma. He was born and raised in Santa Crus de la Palma in the Canary Island (Spain). He was homeschooled when he was a child. After he grew up, he attended a Swiss boarding school. Later, his parents wanted him to be a diplomat, and enrolled him at the University of Geneva majoring in Politics and Law. However, Blahnik changed his majors to Literature and Architecture. In 1965, he got his degree and moved to Paris for studying Art at the École des Beaux-Arts and Stage Set Design at the Louvre Art School, while working at a vintage clothing shop.[2] In 1968, he moved to London to work as a buyer at fashion boutique "Zapata" and wrote for L’Uomo Vogue, a Italian men’s version of Vogue. In 1970, Blahnik had a chance to meet Diana Vreeland, the editor-in-chief of U.S Vogue, while he was travelling in New York. He showed his portfolio of fashions and set design to Vreeland, and then she looked him straight in the eye and said, “Young man, do things, do accessories, do shoes.” She admires his shoes sketches and advice him to concentrate on designing footwear. Then, Blahnik has followed her advice and worked on designing shoes.[3] In 1972, Ossie Clark invited him to create shoes for his runway show. Also, He designed shoes for other London fashion designers, such as Jean Muir and Zandra Rhodes. With a loan of £2,000, Blahnik bought Zapata from its owner and opened his own boutique. In 1974, Blahnik was featured on the cover of U.L. Vogue, and he is the first man to be featured on that cover page. In 1977, he sold his shoes in America, through Bloomingdales, and opened his boutique in the U.S. Since then, he has become a very famous shoes designer, and a symbol of pure classic style for the 21st century.[3] Manolo Blahnik's flagship store remains to date in Old Church Street in the fashionable Chelsea district of London. Blahnik's boutiques are located in London, New York, Las Vegas, Dublin, Athens, Madrid, Istanbul, Dubai, Kuwait, Hong Kong, Seoul, Singapore and Stockholm. Bloomingdales (for which he created his first American collection), Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Barneys, Bergdorf Goodman and Saks Fifth Avenue carry his line in the United States and newly opened in Dubai Mall. The company has signed a long-term deal with the shoewear retailer Kurt Geiger to operate Manolo Blahnik boutiques.[4][5] Blahnik was elevated to the International Best Dressed List Hall of Fame in 1987. In 2007 Blahnik was appointed as an honorary Commander of the Most Excellent Order British Empire for his service to the British fashion industry.