This March, luxury shoe designer Manolo Blahnik is branching out to design his own line of jewelry based on his iconic mary jane-style Campari shoes, reports Coco Perez.
Blahnik has partnered with Barcelona-based jewellers TOUS in order to turn his classic mary jane design into a diamond-studded charm, for a new line of jewelry called Manolo Blahnik for TOUS.
The partnership began when Blahnik ran into Rosa Tous in Madrid last summer. Blahnik complimented the jeweller for a teddy bear charm she was wearing, and the two began discussing a partnership.
Blahnik suggested recreating his iconic mary jane shoe Campari as a charm. "Let’s do it dangling from a gold chain with a diamond button!" suggested Tous.
Both partners seem happy with the arrangement. "I love TOUS because I feel we have many things in common. We are family-[run] businesses, we share Spanish roots and we are both keen on surprising and innovating," commented Blahnik.
Tous concurred: "I am delighted with the agreement. Manolo Blahnik shoes are beautiful and an amazing mix between trends and classicism."
Manolo Blahnik for TOUS launches this March in 300 international TOUS boutiques, and will later also be available in Manolo Blahnik stores.
Blahnik got his start designing in 1972 and his label has become known for its high quality – and high price tag. The mary jane-style Campari was first released in 1994 and has since appeared in many films and television series, making it one of Blahnik’s best-known designs.
The family-operated TOUS was founded in 1920, and today, with nearly 400 storefronts in 45 countries, it offers a range of lifestyle products from jewelry to accessories and perfumes.