EXCLUSIVE: Inside Manolo Blahnik’s Striking New Boutique in the Miami Design District
Katie Abel
Executive Editor
Manolo Blahnik is about to make a major splash in Miami.
This week, the London luxury label is opening a boutique, its third store in the U.S. and first in Florida, in the heart of the city’s Design District — a definitive hotspot for high-end brands.
“The energy of Miami is fantastic; the people and the place are so welcoming. The music and madness is really like no other place on earth — the Latin American Cuban influence is omnipresent, which I just adore,” Manolo Blahnik told FN and WWD.
The footwear veteran — who has locations on Madison Avenue in New York as well as in East Hampton — said the Design District was the perfect fit for a new shop, citing the area’s natural beauty, sculpture-filled plazas and striking architecture. “There is so much focus on design and craftsmanship in the area, it is the perfect place to open a boutique,” he said.
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CEO Kristina Blahnik relishes the opportunity to be surrounded by distinctive jewelry brands in Palm Court plaza, where the store is located. “It’s really feels like you’re in a village. It’s such an interesting mix of brands and a real community as opposed to a commercial outlet,” she said.
Many of the details Blahnik is known for — including his oft-used polka dot motif — are seen through in the 1,986-square-foot store, from the geometric façade to the interior’s rugs and wallpapers. “It’s the very first façade we’ve done, so it was nerve-wracking but also an exciting opportunity,” Kristina Blahnik said.
Inside the store, individually rotating wall slats create floating shelves to display shoes and bags, allowing for customization with each new collection.
British architect Nick Leith-Smith, who has worked with Blahnik since 2003, was inspired by Josef Hoffmann, one of the designer’s favorite artists who is known for his pioneering Art Deco work — defined by geometric shapes and ornamental detailing.
The boutique, which will be feted at an opening party on March 12, will be home to 13 exclusive shoes in six different silhouettes.
Highlights include the Maysale, a kitten-heeled mule initially created for Isaac Mizrahi’s Spring 1991 fashion show. Now, it’s reimagined in a playful pink suede. Another memorable style, the Chaos, was first introduced in 2013, is fashioned in navy blue nappa leather with a coordinating gingham toe strap. In addition to the exclusive styles, the spring ’25 collection will be front and center.
“[Our own stores] allow for the full breadth of Manolo’s creativity,” his niece said. “It’s really being able to tell our own story in our own home. We have such an incredible community across America.”
As the Blahniks continue their stateside expansion, they are on the hunt for locations in the Los Angeles area, another important market. The U.S. business has gotten off to a strong start, particularly online, in 2025, according to the CEO.
Meanwhile, in Europe, a Milan boutique is in the works — an opening that will be very personal for the designer, who spends every moment he can at his Italian factory near the city. The China business also continues to evolve, with the brand now sold online via Tmall.
And at home in London, the brand is busy preparing for its starring role in the “Marie Antoinette Style” exhibition, which it is sponsoring.
