Now on Tour: Shoes and Sketches by Manolo Blahnik

Any devotee of the television series “Sex and the City” knew who Manolo was and why Carrie happily blew thousands of dollars on his shoes.

Footwear designer Manolo Blahnik studied art and languages in Geneva before moving to Paris and working as a theater set designer. In 1970, Diana Vreeland, who at the time was the editor-in-chief of American Vogue, encouraged him to design shoes.

Two hundred of his designs, shoes, boots and sketches go on display in Toronto in a show called “Manolo Blahnik: The Art of Shoes,” which will open May 16 at the Bata Shoe Museum. The show runs until Jan. 6, 2019. Blahnik is scheduled to speak at the museum May 16.

Following are edited excerpts from a conversation with Blahnik.

A: The show at the Hermitage in St. Petersburg was the first one they’ve done focused on fashion and on shoes. I feel very proud of that, but was also nervous. An incredible amount of people came, old and young. They saw the shoes as objects, not as a shoe. I found them much more observant of the work than other Europeans.

I was shocked, but also inspired to have a reaction like that. Russia really was the most interesting, as this kind of exhibition is unusual for them. They even wrote me poems in Cyrillic.

A: I do think I owe people this moment of contact. I like to meet people. I like to see their reaction. This is the only way to share with people what I do. To give them some pleasure. Every day should be fun in your work.

A: The idea for the thigh-high Rihanna boots came to me from a visit outside Paris. I saw some fishermen in the river with boots that high, so I did it in satin. I see something no one else does. The Ossie Clark shoes from 1971 are my favorite — ivy green with ivy leaves going up the leg. It includes cherries, something I’m still doing. I love cherries! I put them everywhere.

A: Galleries, museums, the world. I’m very curious. I’m a museum addict. It’s like a drug to me. In New York, I do love the Met and MoMA, which is right next to our office. But my favorite, favorite, favorite is the British Museum. I love the huge rooms filled with Greek statues.

A: I’m a visual person, so I remember what I see. I don’t even do mood boards.

I think social media is very, very dangerous for creative people now. The internet doesn’t do anything for me.

A: If I think I’ve done a design before, immediately it’s out. I try to edit myself when I see something I’ve done before.

I might try using new materials, like titanium or PVC. I use all the new materials. I’m now using farmed crocodile from Louisiana. I love it!

A: I’m a victim of the old ways. I was distraught when (fashion designer) Azzedine Alaïa died. It’s a very, very short list of designers.

I’ve been trying to tell people that success in this world is not something quick. But Pierre Hardy — that boy is incredible. I adore him!