Luxury shoe designer Manolo Blahnik loves his job and sticks to his own principles and inspirations
Manolo Blahnik might be old school, but his collaboration with millennial superstar Rihanna is a match made in heaven, writes Vivian Chen
"It's very exciting for an old boy like me to be working with a young kid like her, a very talented young kid," Blahnik says on the phone from his studio in Mayfair, London.
The 73-year-old shoemaker co-designed a capsule collection of six styles titled "Denim Desserts" with the pop diva, which arrived in stores in Hong Kong earlier this month. The aptly titled series features painstakingly crafted shoes that combine the essence of the veteran cobbler with Rihanna's street glamour.
The thigh-high boots, for example, are made for women who dare to make a fashion statement - the skin-tight boots are connected with a belt that cinches at the wearer's waistline. Apart from their extravagant silhouette, the footwear hand-finished with meticulously crafted details such as embroidery by the finest artisans from Bologna, Italy. Only 45 pairs will be made, 15 of which will be available at the Manolo boutique at Elements mall.
Rihanna has long been a Manolo fan. "Manolos are timeless," the pop queen says. "I adore Mr Blahnik. There's something pure, innocent and honest about him. When he talks about shoes, he's the most passionate [designer] I've ever met."
Blahnik's first meeting with Rihanna left him in awe too. "I don't follow celebrities, but she was so exciting," Blahnik says. "The persona she projects in [her music videos] is different from in real life. She is polite and beautifully mannered."
The creative pair hit it off immediately. However, the challenge was to create the collection as Rihanna envisioned it, in denim - a material rarely seen in previous Manolo designs.
"I haven't worn blue jeans since I was a teenager," Blahnik says, laughing. "I took on the challenge and used denim [in] the best way I could."
Known for his hands-on approach, Blahnik has been designing his shoe collections by himself for the past 45 years. The Rihanna series is one of only a handful of crossover projects throughout his career.