But like many other brands, Blahnik soon realized the true opportunity lay in focusing his attention on the larger women’s market. That strategy has clearly paid off, but in recent years Blahnik has once again begun putting more emphasis on men’s.
The most striking statement is the New York store at 717 Madison Avenue, the largest in the fleet, which opened in June 2021 and replaced a smaller unit on 54th Street that carried women’s shoes with just a “vignette” for a couple of men’s models, Wright said.
As Manolo Blahnik said: “There are some wonderful creators in the market and I adore classic designs that are beautifully made. I find sneakers quite challenging and not visually appealing, and they seem to be everywhere at the moment, I hope that changes in the near future. I do like subtle style lace-ups like a classic Converse or my Semanado style, which is very minimal and elegant. I really despise chunky trainers.
Wright, who joined the Manolo Blahnik company six years ago, quickly saw the void in the business for a comprehensive men’s collection. “We always had a vignette in London but never a full collection. But I came from Ralph Lauren and Louis Vuitton, so I knew how big men’s could be.” As Manolo Blahnik explained: “I don’t follow fashion or trends, nor do I focus on what other people are doing, I just do what I like, and I design shoes as I am inspired by books, films, people, artists, the world. If you create shoes that fit well, that are made well and with wonderful craftsmanship — and of course ensure you look after them — they will always stand the test of time. Color and comfort are at the heart of my designs and shoes that last.
All told, Manolo Blahnik operates 19 monobrand stores, seven of which are operated by the company while the rest are franchised. Although the units that carry men’s are designed to appeal to guys, it’s the collection itself that really draws people in, Wright believes.