If you hear of a new Manolo Blahnik collection or collaboration today, it would be natural to immediately conjure up images of high-heeled velvety mules, strappy stiletto sandals, and, should your mind ever go to flats, ultra-chic, soft leather or velvet mules. Definitely not a Birkenstock design. Surely not a Birkenstock sandal.
Yet, that is what the latest fashion collaboration is: Manolo Blahnik x Birkenstock.
The eponymous founder of the luxe footwear brand would have you know that this collaboration is not as strange as you would like to think. In an interview with Vogue, he explains, “I have worn them most of my life! My niece Kristina and I featured in the 2020 Personality Campaign which was wonderful fun. This collaboration was a natural next step – I’m totally thrilled with the result.”
We daresay that everything Manolo Blahnik touches turns into a glitzy, chic affair, and his work with the utilitarian Birkenstock is no different. Footwear in this collaboration includes the Arizona slides in rich shades of blue and fuchsia plush velvet and the Boston clog in the same colour and material. Both models also have an option of pure black leather, and all the designs are decked out with opulent crystal buckles because as Mr Blahnik explains, “I am always looking for new pieces of jewellery or accessories to decorate our shoes with and it was such fun to add sparkle to Birkenstocks making them truly eye-catching.”
The new collection will be available on the Manolo Blahnik website and all its retail stores worldwide at a price range of $750 to $810. If you’ve never thought that the regular Birkenstock could be transformed into an eye-catching, highly desirable, glittering footwear, say hello to the Manolo Blahnik x Birkenstock collection, available for purchase from March 24.