The Spring ‘25 collection touches on many of the enduring references that find a remarkable outlet in Manolo’s work, from the Mediterranean, to architecture, artists and photography.
This season, Blahnik pulls inspiration from the effortless elegance of the Mediterranean. The timeless Breton stripe taken from traditional parasols, brings splashes of colour to the collection in HOUZAMCLO and AJARA. Coral, found in the Mediterranean and an enduring inspiration of Blahnik’s, provides the inspiration for the beaded buckles of the RAVELLANU, included in the Trapani edit.
Blahnik’s passion for nature can be seen in vibrant floral embroidered mesh inspired by the royal gardens of Turin, showcased on JARDINO and JARDOLYNE, and the cascading suede accents inspired by frangipani blooms which feature on MARWAM and RACHED.
The designer sketched a series of sandals including FAWDA, and the AYAM pump, with swirling leather lines inspired by the Greco-Roman statues of Sagalassos, located in modern day Turkey. Whilst the vibrant flags of Spanish toreadors are translated in wide bows on tonal styles READORHI and READORFLAT, echoing the shoemakers’ enduring passion for Spanish culture.
Fashion and film have always been key influences for Blahnik, and this season is no exception. For Spring ‘25, he looks to iconic figures from the 20th century. Blahnik nods to a 1997 issue of Vogue Italia featuring Guinevere van Seenus and Carolyn Murphy through experimental metallic finishes, which adorn the woven RAYAAH and CAPCOUR styles.
HAGGA and AYRACU call to mind French eyewear designer Emmanuelle Khanh, known for her distinctive oversized eyewear and curved signature shapes. Pleated suede accents in fuchsia and dark blue echo the timeless glamour of Hollywood legend Sophia Loren in styles WALIDOSO and ANSAK, while stark metal buckles on strappy sandals including SHBEA and SHBEALO, presented in a suitably 70’s palette of rich natural tones, were designed with striking supermodel Janice Dickinson in mind.
The spirit of pioneering artists and architects informed intricate styles in bold hues for Spring ‘25. Blahnik began by studying Mario Botta’s mesmerizing marble and granite structure, the church of San Giovanni Battista in Switzerland, inspiring the KHALILAC and CHA’AM designs. Graphic shapes and stripes in a spectrum of eye-catching colour combinations were created in a nod to artist Wassily Kandinsky’s abstract paintings and English painter Bridget Riley’s signature optical illusions. HODOUBY, KALB and HAKIR convey both of these artists masterful use of colour and form. Another distinct, yet timeless piece, Johannes Vermeer’s ‘Girl with the Pearl Earring’, inspired lustrous pearl borders on the KIFAT pump. Blahnik looked to ‘Bubbles’ the Iconic painting by John Everett Millais, for a daytime edit with graduated circular leather cutouts, complemented by an evening edit in delicate rounded lace seen on AKBARAK and SIDI.
While Manolo Blahnik ventures into new creative territory for Spring ‘25, classics such as the MAYSALE and HANGISI remain pillars of the collection. These icons are reimagined in eye-catching shades of pink, blue, yellow and peach, a testament to Blahnik’s enduring love of colour, whilst the house’s own archive inspired a palette of laminated metallic hues.
