In our interview with the legendary Manolo Blahnik, the visionary reflects on his legacy in fashion that&rsquo;s defined by timeless craftsmanship and signature silhouettes.

It&rsquo;s impossible to talk about iconic shoe brands without mentioning Manolo Blahnik. With a career spanning over five decades, the designer has redefined luxury footwear by creating styles that transcend trends and generations. From the classic Perry &mdash; inspired by actor Gary Cooper &mdash; to the Mario that was launched in 1985, these silhouettes are driven by Mr. Blahnik&rsquo;s love for eternal allure. After all, the designer famously said: &ldquo;It is ultimately a quality of timelessness that turns a shoe into a finely fashioned objet d&rsquo;art.&rdquo;
Below, the master talks about working with family, his design approach, and the inspirations behind his most cherished creations.

Hi Mr. Blahnik! What have you been busy with these days?
Designing four women&rsquo;s and two men&rsquo;s collections per year keeps me extremely busy! I am always curious, reading, enjoying art, being outdoors and finding inspiration. I draw around 300 styles a season, but I have more ideas than I could ever create. I have also recently been to see the artisans in Italy at the factory which was just wonderful. For many years I have split my time between the Canary Islands, Bath and of course Mayfair in London so I am constantly on the move.
How involved are you in the business&rsquo;s day-to-day operations today, and how has your role evolved over the years?
I am so lucky to continue to do what I love, and I am very fortunately still involved in the whole process, which I adore. My passion lies with craftsmanship and visiting the artisans at the factory.
Your niece, Kristina, has been with the company since 2009. After working together for 15 years, what is the synergy like between the two of you?
It has been so fantastic to have my niece Kristina as CEO who oversees the running of the business and works with me to develop the collections. We are and continue to be a family business, with family values at our core and it is so important to me that we can keep the business this way. We have an excellent working relationship, and she has been key in expanding and growing our wonderful company, most recently with our store openings in Asia. This year, we have opened three stores in Hong Kong (Lee Gardens, Ocean Centre and Pacific Place) as well as Plaza 66 in Shanghai. It is a wonderful moment of growth for the house, and not something I ever thought possible when I started the brand from a tiny office in our Old Church Street store in Chelsea.

Your designs are synonymous with timeless elegance. How do you balance innovation and preserving the brand&rsquo;s signature aesthetic?
Every shoe I create is designed to be elegant. When you put on a pair of shoes you want to feel the best version of yourself, they must give you confidence. Without confidence, you cannot be elegant or feel feminine. I love to create variations on our classic styles, and I am constantly finding new ways to innovate them, whether that be a new fabrication or craft technique. It is important to continue to progress the collections whilst keeping my signature aesthetic at the core. I have been searching for perfection for over 50 years and I hope that shines through in all of my collections.
How do you keep innovating within the realm of men&rsquo;s footwear, where classic styles often dominate, and the silhouettes remain largely unchanged?
Not many people know but I started designing men&rsquo;s shoes before women&rsquo;s, more than 50 years ago. I would often make them for myself and for my friends, whenever the mood or muse inspired me to do so. The Perry, our classic penny loafer has been in our men&rsquo;s collections since the very beginning of my career and it was inspired by the relaxed and colourful style of one of my favourite Hollywood actors, Gary Cooper. It is a classic men&rsquo;s style that never goes out of fashion. The Mario is another of our classic men&rsquo;s styles within the silhouettes collection which I first created in Autumn Winter 85, I wanted to give men more options, to truly embrace the possibilities of men&rsquo;s fashion, to steer away from a chunkier sole. Having a sense of style is very important, and this style whilst remaining classic has been reimagined in velvets, with intricate embroidery, raffia and eye-catching prints. I am constantly trying to innovate these styles whilst at the same time making sure that they continue to be timeless. But ultimately, my designs are not fashion or trend-driven, I design what I like.

Shoes can hold deep meaning for many people. How do you approach designing pieces that are more than just fashion?
To me shoes are not just fashion, they are an extension of my inspirations and beauty is what matters to me. Beauty is what makes things meaningful. I am inspired by lots of different things, I am always curious about what&rsquo;s around me and I am always seeking out new avenues of inspiration. My inspirations are a facsimile of my mind, they come from all over the world, be it people, architecture, nature or art, I adore it all and often find inspiration in the most unexpected places! I even sleep with a sketchbook by my bed in case I wake up with an idea and I must quickly sketch it, in fact ,that is often when my very best ideas come to me. Each shoe is a work of art due to the craftsmanship that goes into their creation, and they each have their own stories. I don&rsquo;t follow trends or look at what other people are doing. Trends have never interested or concerned me, my focus is always on simply creating timeless and exquisite shoes.
What advice would you give to young designers who want to create pieces that stand the test of time in an industry so often focused on short-lived trends?
Be inspired and stay curious. Don&rsquo;t follow trends or what your peers are doing. You want to be able to create something unique that is made beautifully with good fabrics. It may sound simple but it is true. Hard work is everything and you must keep going no matter the obstacles that will come your way! I always say, &lsquo;keep going, keep going, keep going.&rsquo;

You frequently spoke about your love for old Hollywood and cinema. What is your favourite movie of all time?
To pick one film is tremendously difficult! A life without film is a life without joy! For me, motion picture is one of the greatest arts. Old Hollywood films are so elegant and captivating, that I get lost in every detail, the set, design, scenery and wardrobe. I love it all! I still watch multiple films every single day. One of my favourites is And God Created Woman. <a href="https://www.lofficielph.com/fashion/the-new-wave-of-french-cinema" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Brigitte Bardot</a> has always been a huge source of inspiration for me, she&rsquo;s so elegant, feminine and beautiful and was so ahead of her time! The BB was inspired by her, as the perfect balance between sophistication, sensuality and femininity.
How do you want to be remembered in the world of fashion, and what do you hope your legacy will be?
Legacy? I try not to think about that, I just like to concentrate on shoes. I want to create excellent quality, elegant but timeless silhouettes and make people smile.

An Exclusive Interview With Manolo Blahnik on the Art of Shoemaking and Timeless Design

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