Consummate sock lover Manolo Blahnik has turned his legwear passion into reality for men and women. The U.K.-based designer partnered with German company Falke on a small selection of unisex socks, which went on sale today at Becauselondon.com.
“Socks connect your feet with the clothes you are wearing and can make a punctuating statement,” Blahnik said in a statement. “I have so many pairs in various colors and materials. Playing with patterns and textures is a lot of fun. And I love when women wear socks with high heels.”
According to the brands, the capsule collection consists of three styles, which each drawing from the designer’s past.
A ribbed gray crew features pink pompoms that were inspired by decorative curtains in Blahnik’s native Spain (he grew up in the Canary Islands). A light pink sock with fuchsia spots recalls the polka-dot dresses his mother wore. And an ivory-colored sporty sock is an homage to his family’s favorite activity: tennis. That style also bears Blahnik’s personal motto: “Keep Going.”
Check out the slideshow above to see all three styles — and how to pair them with your favorite footwear.
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To market the collection, Blahnik and Falke have taken an unexpected route, teaming up with U.K.-based Because magazine, edited by Caroline Issa. The online magazine has recently ventured into e-commerce, and the socks are the first product offered for sale on the site. Their retail price is 25 pounds, or $37.
“We were thrilled when Falke and Because agreed to participate in this project,” Kristina Blahnik, CEO of Manolo Blahnik, said in the statement. “Both are incredibly dynamic brands in their respective fields and have added unexpected layers of creativity to the initial concept. It is also very exciting to be the first product sold on Becauselondon.com. They have been, and continue to be, one of the leaders of digital-meets-print innovation, and e-commerce is an obvious progression.”
As part of the collaboration, Because and Blahnik developed a short video, called “Shadow Dancer,” that literally highlights the socks in a lighthearted display accompanied by a peppy Spanish-style tune. The clip is airing on the magazine’s website.
