Manolo Blahnik's creative process

NEW YORK - For over 40 years, Manolo Blahnik has skyrocketed through the fashion industry, designing iconic footwear with an attention to detail that has garnered a long list of accolades including this week's Couture Council Award for Artistry of Fashion.

Of course, Blahnik is best known for his stiletto heels executed in colors, silhouettes, and fabrics galore, and the designer is a devoted fan of the way high heels make his customers walk. 

Perhaps most unusual is Blahnik's creative process, unchanged for decades, starting with the sketches that bring his ideas to life. While many of his competitors turn to technology when designing, Blahnik has always gone the old-fashioned route, even keeping a pen and paper by his bed for mid-sleep inspiration.

Today, as Blahnik created an exclusive sketch of one of his upcoming designs, he acknowledged the stream of creativity that fuels his collections, keeping many women around the world very happy.