Manolo Blahnik Can Sell Shoes in China After 22-Year Court Battle

British shoe designer Manolo Blahnik can sell its goods in China for the first time, after the country’s highest court canceled a trademark that had been owned by businessman Fang Yuzhou for more than 20 years.

Blahnik launched in 1971 in London, and the brand exploded in the early 2000s thanks to the popularity of HBO’s “Sex in the City” series.

“It was a huge hole in our existence,” said Manolo Blahnik CEO Kristina Blahnik, who is also the founder’s niece, the Financial Times (FT) reported Tuesday (July 19). “When we got the call, genuine tears were shed.”

China’s “first to file” trademark system means foreign companies often lose out to so-called pirates, who try to sell trademarks when those businesses enter the country for the first time, according to the report. The theft of intellectual property has long been a problem between China and its trade partners, especially the United States.

China passed amendments aimed at buttressing trademark legislation across the country in November 2019, leading to more court victories for foreign companies, the report stated.

The courts dismissed several earlier Manolo Blahnik appeals because the company couldn’t prove it had a reputation in China before 2000 and because Fang Yuzhou appeared to be using the trademark for a shoe label in which he has a stake, according to the report.

The company’s plans for China are still in development, but Kristina Blahnik said in the report that she hopes to be selling in the country later this year.

“We won’t be racing with a rocket into China, but gently walking,” she said.

Last week, reports emerged that Chinese fast fashion giant Shein could launch an initial public offering (IPO) in the U.S. by 2024.

Read more: China’s Fashion Company Shein Eyes 2024 IPO

Shein has gotten some criticism for its inexpensive product line, which was built on a fast and prolific production chain.

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