Manolo Blahnik opens a new boutique in Hong Kong with store exclusive styles

Manolo Blahnik has opened a new boutique at Lee Gardens One shopping mall in Causeway Bay, the first of three openings it has planned in Hong Kong for the near future.

The Lee Gardens boutique houses exclusive styles to mark the launch and red seems to be the theme here. “For me, the color red conveys the energetic spirit of Hong Kong,” says Manolo Blahnik himself.

First up is Blahnik’s signature Ossie (price to be determined), a green lace-up suede sandal initially created for Ossie Clark’s 1971 runway show, which is now done in red. There is also the Turgimod, designed for John Galliano’s ballet-themed fashion show for Spring/Summer 1996, which is now re-imagined in hues of red and gold.

Besides these exclusives, the store also carries the shoe brand’s spring 2024 collection. “The Pitita style, a favorite of mine from the collection, features a gold design adorning the outside of the satin shoe. The mixture of vibrant red and gold reminds me of 17th-century baroque detailing and old Hollywood films, both constant references throughout my collections,” says Blahnik.

Designed by Nick Leith-Smith Architecture + Design, the Lee Gardens boutique features a geometric focal point with a distinctive square panelled shelving system on the interior walls visible through a curved glass storefront. The architecture firm’s founder Nick Leith-Smith, grew up in Hong Kong and has worked with Manolo Blahnik since 2003. He was inspired by the brand’s Burlington Arcade location in London, and updated the store design with raw silk lining in a gradient that goes from red to blue to represent a sunrise.

Also see: K-Swiss: The rebirth of a brand