The famous shoe designer Jimmy Choo, actually Jimmy Chow,
was born in Malaysia in 1961. His father was also a shoemaker and taught him
the trade from a young age. Young Jimmy designed his first shoe at the age of
eleven.
Jimmy Choo attended Cordwainers Technical College in London from 1982 to 1984,
where he also took shoe design courses. He then worked for a
Swiss shoe company until he opened his first boutique in London in 1986, quickly
becoming a success. For his high-quality and low-cost models, he used leather
and experimented, for example. B. also with python and fish skins. Elegant
lines and a modern design characterize the shoes.
Fashion quote:
"I love sewing and the fact that it focuses on the
creation itself. In this area, in design, I made a name for myself. And that's
where I want to stay. "
British Vogue accessories editor Tamara Mellon also discovered Jimmy Choo.
She featured her creations in an eight-page Vogue
special in 1988. She commissioned the designer, who had only handcrafted a few
shoes a week, to create models for her photoshoots on various occasions. In
1996, Mellon persuaded Choo to start a ready-to-wear shoe company with her:
Jimmy Choo Ltd. She became the general manager herself, and Choo was
responsible as a shoe designer, and Sandra Choi, the niece. Of his wife was the
creative director.
In 2001, due to disagreements, Choo sold his stake in the
successful company to Equinox Luxury, whose CEO opened new boutiques and
expanded the line to include leather accessories and handbags. After that,
Jimmy Choo focused on making and designing bespoke women's shoes for Jimmy Choo
Ltd.
Fashion icons like Victoria Beckham and Jennifer Lopez regularly wear luxurious shoes;
Princess Diana trusted his models. He became
known to large addressees through the series Sex and the City; The brand is
also mentioned by name in songs, movies, and other series and is now synonymous
with high-quality footwear fashion. Choo has been recognized for his services
in England and Malaysia.
Jimmy Choo lives with his wife and daughter in London and
works there again in a small shop. Here he also trains selected students in the
art of high-end shoe design and continues to make handmade models.