It was the moment that all shoe-lovers had been waiting for. The chance for bargain-hunters to own a pair of Jimmy Choo shoes finally arrived on Saturday when the high-end label, with sky-high price tags, launched its first collection with low-priced retailer H&M.

The one-off collection of Jimmy Choo for H&M shoes, accessories and apparel caused a global rush over the weekend with shoppers lining up hours before stores opened to secure a place in line.

Before

After

In London, about 500 people began gathering outside H&M’s Regent Street flagship on Friday night – braving rain and wind – in anticipation of the store’s 9 am Saturday opening. One shopper, Kate Smith, admitted she had camped outside the store overnight to ensure her prime position as the first shopper to get her hands on the new range of Jimmy Choo for H&M shoes, clothes and accessories. “I am a massive shoe lover, I have over 200 pairs, but I have always hankered after a pair of Jimmy Choos,” she said.

In Tokyo, more than 800 people, some toting large suitcases, waited in front of the chain’s latest Japan branch in Shinjuku. Some had been there more than 24 hours before the store opened. “I have never bought anything from Jimmy Choo before, so this is a good chance to get something from a really established brand at a very good price,” said Yuji Nakamura, a Tokyo businessman. “I’m mainly looking for a bag for my girlfriend, but I’ll take a look at the men’s collection as well.” A spokeswoman for H&M reported that in Tokyo, 80 percent of the collection was sold out over the weekend.

In Paris, customers were given color-coded wristbands, giving them 10-minute time slots in which to shop in a dedicated area, but barring from buying more than one size per style. Corinne Heron, 35, an office administrator, said, “This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to buy a pair of Jimmy Choo shoes for 99 euros.”

“What’s happening is way beyond our expectations,” said Doris Klein, country manager for H&M in Italy, as she gazed at the 1,000-plus crowd waiting outside its Piazza San Babila store in Milan, a few minutes before the opening.

Seconds before the 9am store openings, the impatient crowds burst into cheers and applause. But once inside, it was every woman for herself as the crowds of shoppers raced around trying to snatch anything they could before it was ripped away. The stars of the collection – the Jimmy Choo for H&M shoes and handbags – were fenced-off in a special area, which could only be accessed by 20 customers at a time. Shop assistants worked frantically trying to keep up with the demands of time-constrained customers, while security guards struggled to control the lines waiting for their allocated slot.

Lucy Stewart, 28, the store manager of the H&M flagship in London, said: “We have done a lot of designer launches here, but I have never seen anything like this. Normally we would have one security guard on the shop floor – today we have nine. But then women and shoes are a crazy combination.”