Singapore. Shoe lovers may not be able to get their hands on a pair of Manolo Blahniks in Singapore for a while due to the fallout from a divorce.
Permanent liquidators have been named to wind up the only company that sold them here. It means that until another company buys the exclusive franchise, shoppers who want a pair will have to travel abroad to places such as Hong Kong.
The shoes are named after Spanish designer Manolo Blahnik - who is famous for his stiletto heels - and they can cost up to S$1,000 a pair.
They were sold at two shops, at Marina Bay Sands (MBS) and Hilton Hotel, owned by Cloud 9 Lifestyle.
The firm is run by Jamie Chua, 36, who is locked in a bitter divorce suit with businessman Nurdian Cuaca, 46. Cloud 9's majority shareholder is a firm called D'League, which is substantially owned by Cuaca.
Chua had appointed temporary liquidators to wind up Cloud 9 Lifestyle. But D'League voted last week at a creditors' meeting to replace them with permanent liquidators Chia Soo Hien and Leow Quek Shiong from international audit firm BDO.
The shoes have been removed from the rented space in the two outlets and warehoused.
Chua's lawyer, Salem Ibrahim, said the franchise comes to an end the moment the company is put into liquidation.
The Singapore franchise was obtained from Hong Kong-based Manolo Blahnik supplier Larry Fong, 55, who also helps the brand's London head office find new franchisees in the region.
Fong, who owns and has run the Manolo Blahnik outlets in Hong Kong for more than 20 years, described the turn of events here as "unfortunate and embarrassing."
This is the second time a Manolo Blahnik outlet in Asia has closed. The first happened last October in Jakarta. Mr Fong said he is in talks with several companies which are keen to buy and run the franchise in Singapore.
"Customers can definitely look forward to a new outlet with a new franchisee and a new supply of shoes as soon as possible," he said.
"For the time being, they could go to Hong Kong or some other place." He said the date that the outlets reopen here will depend on how quickly the choice of a franchisee and the legal terms of operation are settled.
Cloud 9 Lifestyle owes more than $1.6 million to D'League alone, official company records show. Other creditors include landlords MBS and Hilton Hotel for the shop space as well as staff who are owed wages.
Contacted yesterday, Ms Chua said: "All my hard work has gone to waste and I am very disappointed."
