As the Spanish footwear brand launches its Manolo’s Silhouettes capsule, Kristina Blahnik tells us about her lifelong love affair with shoes and how she’s moving the Manolo Blahnik legacy forward.

“I really was born in a shoebox; one of my earliest memories is from when I was about eight years old, sitting on my uncle’s lap and watching him design shoes,” recounts Kristina Blahnik. While many of us have played dress up in our mother’s too-big-for-us heels, not many can say they’ve pranced around awkwardly in Blahniks—and certainly not in the presence of the iconic designer himself. To Kristina, the 81-year-old Manolo Blahnik is more than a fashion visionary — he is her uncle and a paternal figure who imparted to her the values of craftsmanship, tradition and creativity.

A former architect, Kristina unexpectedly pivoted into the family business when she took over its production logistics for one season. In this fortunate twist of events that sparked her passion for the industry, she proceeded to spend several years learning everything about the company, and eventually assumed the role as chief executive officer in 2013.

Equipped with a sharp business acumen and a bold collaborative spirit, she looks back on some of the most fulfilling projects she’s spearheaded since being with the company. “Opening the pop-up at Liberty’s in 2010 was one of the craziest things I’ve ever done. My architecture practice designed it, and we made lots of special products for it—and all in just 10 months,” she reveals. Other noteworthy partnerships over the years include a highly coveted capsule with pop icon Rihanna, as well as collections with Vetements and Birkenstock. Kristina has since steered the storied Spanish label into a novel direction— one that effortlessly fuses tradition and innovation. “We like to experiment with new shapes and fabrications alongside the classic styles that we offer. For me it is all about taking our time and trusting our gut feelings,” shares Kristina.

Just recently, the brand unveiled its Manolo’s Silhouettes campaign which shines the spotlight back on its most timeless designs. The edit features six signature styles: The BB, Maysale, Mary Jane, Chaos, Susa and Carolyne. When asked about her personal favourite, Kristina picked the sophisticated Maysale, a low-heeled mule that has been worn by icons ranging from Madonna to Marge Simpson. “I wear it pretty much everywhere—on walks, to work, to dinner. It just fits so nicely into my wardrobe,” she says.

This article first appeared on Elle Singapore.

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