Pair of Shoes
2003 (made), 1973 (designed)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
Manolo Blahnik, whose shoes appear in top runway collections as well as in the world’s most glamorous fashion magazines, is one of the few designers whose name is synonymous with their product. He is solely responsible for the design and prototype of every shoe, chiselling the wooden lasts on which they are moulded and carving the heels himself, once declaring ‘I’m king of the scissors.’ (O’Keefe, Linda, 'Shoes: A Celebration of Pumps, Sandals, Slippers and More', New York: Workman Publishing Company, Inc.).
Blahnik relished the opportunity to solve the problem of the foot and the difficulty in achieving the proper balance between comfort, quality and design; yet he has achieved exactly that without any formal training in shoe-making. Each Blahnik shoe goes through about fifty different production processes, so his factory in Parabiago, Italy, turns out only about eighty pairs a day. His consummate workmanship and whimsical aesthetic are evident in this green suede sandal created for Ossie Clark’s catwalk show. This was shortly before Blahnik opened his first boutique in London in 1973. The shoe was re-made for the Victoria & Albert Museum’s exhibition on Ossie Clark which ran from 15 July 2003 to 2 May 2004.
Blahnik relished the opportunity to solve the problem of the foot and the difficulty in achieving the proper balance between comfort, quality and design; yet he has achieved exactly that without any formal training in shoe-making. Each Blahnik shoe goes through about fifty different production processes, so his factory in Parabiago, Italy, turns out only about eighty pairs a day. His consummate workmanship and whimsical aesthetic are evident in this green suede sandal created for Ossie Clark’s catwalk show. This was shortly before Blahnik opened his first boutique in London in 1973. The shoe was re-made for the Victoria & Albert Museum’s exhibition on Ossie Clark which ran from 15 July 2003 to 2 May 2004.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
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Materials and techniques | Suede |
Brief description | Green suede shoes with ankle ties, Manolo Blahnik, 2003 recreation of 1973 design. |
Physical description | These high-heeled green suede shoes are open-toed and have a platform sole. The upper is comprised of intertwining leaf motifs in contrasting shades of green suede, which are repeated on either side of the heel supports. The vine-like ankle straps end in a cherry motif, the red colour of which is repeated in the red leather inside lining and insole. |
Dimensions |
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Production type | Copy |
Marks and inscriptions |
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Credit line | Given by Manolo Blahnik |
Object history | These shoes were remade by the designer to duplicate the original 1972 design for Ossie Clark. Manolo Blahnik originally designed them for Clark's 1972 catwalk show and the shoes were re-made for the Victoria & Albert Museum's 'Ossie Clark' Exhibition, 15th July 2003 to the 2nd May 2004. |
Production | Attribution note: These shoes were remade by the designer in 2003 to duplicate the original 1973 design for an Ossie Clark catwalk show. |
Subjects depicted | |
Summary | Manolo Blahnik, whose shoes appear in top runway collections as well as in the world’s most glamorous fashion magazines, is one of the few designers whose name is synonymous with their product. He is solely responsible for the design and prototype of every shoe, chiselling the wooden lasts on which they are moulded and carving the heels himself, once declaring ‘I’m king of the scissors.’ (O’Keefe, Linda, 'Shoes: A Celebration of Pumps, Sandals, Slippers and More', New York: Workman Publishing Company, Inc.). Blahnik relished the opportunity to solve the problem of the foot and the difficulty in achieving the proper balance between comfort, quality and design; yet he has achieved exactly that without any formal training in shoe-making. Each Blahnik shoe goes through about fifty different production processes, so his factory in Parabiago, Italy, turns out only about eighty pairs a day. His consummate workmanship and whimsical aesthetic are evident in this green suede sandal created for Ossie Clark’s catwalk show. This was shortly before Blahnik opened his first boutique in London in 1973. The shoe was re-made for the Victoria & Albert Museum’s exhibition on Ossie Clark which ran from 15 July 2003 to 2 May 2004. |
Bibliographic reference | (O’Keefe, Linda, 'Shoes: A Celebration of Pumps, Sandals, Slippers and More', New York: Workman Publishing Company, Inc., 156-57pp. ISBN 0761101144) |
Collection | |
Accession number | T.39:1, 2-2007 |
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Record created | July 5, 2007 |
Record URL |
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