Kristina Blahnik on Turning Legacy Into Stiletto High Growth

Since joining Manolo Blahnik in 2009, Kristina Blahnik, the founder’s niece and from 2013 the firm’s CEO, has been leading the family-run business into new markets while honoring its creative heritage.

“When you embark on joining a family business, you have to build your own identity within that,” says Blahnik. "This business is a member of my family. It comes with highs and lows, but we work through them because we’re together."

Under her leadership, Manolo Blahnik has refined its creative direction and consumer engagement, and streamlined its wholesale strategy. This helped manifest the brand’s first store in China, at Shanghai’s Plaza 66, which opened in November 2024. A year on, the store has become a touchpoint for the brand, allowing it to meaningfully engage with a customer base that had historically relied on international travel to purchase its designs.

Recorded after the opening of the Victoria & Albert Museum’s exhibition on Marie Antoinette, where Manolo Blahniks play a leading role for their appearances in Sofia Coppola’s movie, Blahnik reflects on why the family business continues to resonate culturally as much as commercially.

Visit jingdaily.com and subscribe to our newsletter to get the real signals behind trends in Asia.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.