Manolo Blanick was born in the Canary Islands, in Santa Cruz de la Palma.
He studied literature and art in Geneva before moving to Paris in 1965 where he decided to become a designer.
The Manolo Blahnik high heels are considered unique and a hymn to feminine elegance because of their special construction, refinement and feminine design.
On a visit to New York in 1970, he showed his designs to Diana Vreeland, then editor-in-chief of American Vogue, who encouraged him to focus on footwear. He started creating shoes in London in 1971.
Blahnik shoes were popular during the 90s.
Many references to the Spanish designer have been made in the TV series by Carrie Bradshaw (the character played by Sarah Jessica Parker), who sacrificed her rent for a pair of Manolo’s.
“Shoes help transform a woman,” 73-year-old Manolo Blanick has said.
In a career spanning five decades, he has designed more than 30,000 different styles of shoes, winning over even the strictest fashion critics.
“Manolo Blanc is a legend who continues to inspire people around the world”
Why am I telling you all this? because before I knew who Manolo was, I had already created the first hairstyle inspired by his shoes.
A year later, L’Oréal professionnel asked me through haute coiffure Hellas to design the biography of Manolo Blanick with hair. A unique show to honor Manolo Blanick in a cocktail event created by Jenny Balatsinou at the Athens Music Conservatory and the Thessaloniki Concert Hall.
A great artistic challenge for me, which I keep in my heart as one of the most powerful creative moments in my life.
Step 1 : I worked with the famous stylist Michalis Pantos. In one evening I researched, read and respectfully sketched every important moment of Manolo Blanick’s life
Step 2 : I made a collection of hairdressers from all over Greece and organized two teams that I needed to implement the technical part of Athens (Ioanna Tziga , Dimitris Drakas Idomenas Michalodimitrakis Melina Tsaka and Angelos ) & Thessaloniki ( Ioanna Tziga ,Elena Verikiou ,Themis Kalatzis ) and I thank them …
I feel grateful to have been able to create a biography of such an acclaimed shoe designer. I printed the material with my work and sent it to Manolo where he lives in America… he was very pleased . I was really expecting a pair of slippers, but she just thanked me ! Never mind my journey into the art world was once again magical.
See what happened !!!
Attention !!!! In my next article I will tell you Manolo’s life with only hairstyles and then you will understand at a glance (our trial )😉!!!!
