The real Jimmy Choo is not about setting trends, high profiles, or Hollywood. The real Jimmy Choo is about making shoes, obsessively, by hand, as an artist.
The real Jimmy Choo
The real Jimmy Choo was born in Penang, Malaysia in 1961 into a Chinese shoemaking family.
Education
One report says that Choo only completed 6 years of elementary school, but that he made his first pair of shoes when he was 11. Despite his reported lack of academic education, he was accepted to the famous Cordwainers Technical College in 1980 and graduated three years later. To pay for his studies, he worked part time in restaurants and as a shoe factory cleaning person.
First Shop
In 1986, he rented a former London hospital in which he installed his first workshop.
Press
In 1988, British Vogue and especially its accessories editor, Tamara Mellon, featured his shoes in an unprecedented 8-page spread.
Lady Diana Princess of Wales
Lady Diana, Princess of Wales became a client in 1990, and was known to buy the same model in several different colors to match with her suits as well as her evening wear. He made so many shoes for her he himself cannot remember the number. He was scheduled to deliver a pair of gold pumps that he had just created for her the day after she died, a pair that he ha since kept in her memory.
Other VIPs
Other celebrities known to be Jimmy Choo clients include: Cate Blanchett (her much-talked about 1999 Academy Awards shoes), Madonna (who wore Jimmy Choo shoes on her wedding day), Halle Berry¸ Victoria Beckham, Katherine Heigl, Lindsay Lohan, Beyonce, Cameron Diaz, Kyliue Minogue, Jessica Simpson, Jennifer Lopez.
Tamara Mellon
Tamara Mellon, socialite, Vogue accessories editor and a Jimmy Choo client, approached Jimmy Choo about collaborating on a shoe line in 1996. However, they did not work well together, leading Jimmy Choo’s apprentice and niece, Sandra Choi, to supervise the prêt-a-porter production while Jimmy concentrated on his couture creations and Mellon on public relations. The partnership ended in 2001 when Jimmy sold his 50% for 6.9m pounds to Equinox Luxury Holdings. His niece still works with Mellon today.
The Real Jimmy Choo Boutique
Jimmy Choo Couture
Jimmy Choo now makes shoes exclusively for Jimmy Choo Couture. His handmade shoes can be bought by appointment only in his boutique located at 18 Connaught Street in Paddington, London, England. His website is under construction, perhaps confirming that his priority is on making shoes, not on public relations.
The Shoes
Jimmy believes that beauty and comfort together make a good shoe. The shoes are handmade, elegant, never too fashionable, and always in harmony with the haute couture clothes they often accompany. He designs his shoes by appointment only, making his clientele very exclusive. Preferred colors include orange, fuchsia, and aqua blue; preferred fabrics include shantung and satin; preferred skins include fish and python (for their dyeing capacities), as well as feathers, mink and Swarovski crystals for detailing. A pair of Jimmy Choo Couture shoes can take up to 1 week to finish.
Titles
Jimmy Choo has been awarded several titles since 2000, including
- Dato’: awarded by the Sultan of Pahang state in Malaysia for his achievements in 2000
- OBE: awarded by Queen Elizabeth II in recognition of his services to the shoe and fashion industry in the United Kingdom in 2002
- Darjah Setia Pangkuan Negeri: awarded by the Yang di-Pertua Negeri (Governor) of his home state of Penang, which also carries the title Dato’ [3] in 2004
- Professor: awarded with a fellowship by the University of the Arts London
Other projects
Jimmy Choo may be a London resident, but he is also actively involved in his homeland where he is overseeing a shoemaking institute. He has become a Malaysian icon and a role model for aspiring shoemakers and designers.
Jimmy Choo Couture logo
Quotes
“Trends are predicted by trend-setters; I only make beautiful shoes. I have been lucky enough to design shoes for the most celebrated women in the world…”
“It will have to be Christian Louboutin and Manolo Blahnik. There are just a few serious designers doing shoes. Louboutin has great designs and Blahnik is highly fashionable — he is like a teacher for all newcomers. I really admire their work.” (in response to the question, which contemporary footwear designers do you admire)