Asianfin -- Manolo Blahnik, the luxury shoe brand beloved by celebrities and famously featured in *Sex and the City*, has opened its first store in mainland China following a 22-year legal battle to secure the rights to its name in the country.

The brand’s new boutique, located in Shanghai’s high-end Plaza 66 mall, marks the beginning of a planned expansion across China, with plans to open one store per year over the next five years in cities including Beijing and Chengdu.

The dispute began in 1999 when a local businessman registered trademarks related to "Manolo Blahnik," limiting the company's ability to operate under its name in China. As China operates under a "first to file" trademark system, companies don’t need to prove prior use to secure a trademark. However, a 2022 ruling by the Supreme People’s Court of China finally awarded the trademark to Manolo Blahnik.

“We were incredibly grateful to reclaim our trademark. For years, our focus was just on getting it back. Now, our sights are set firmly on Asia,” said Kristina Blahnik, CEO and niece of founder Manolo Blahnik.

The brand also recently opened two new stores in Hong Kong in October.

Manolo Blahnik’s long-awaited entry into the mainland market comes as luxury giants like LVMH are experiencing slower sales in China, impacted by economic challenges and cautious consumer spending. However, Kristina Blahnik remains optimistic, viewing this as a fresh start for the brand in the world’s second-largest luxury market.