Jimmy Choo is a Hakka Chinese shoe designer based in London and is best known for his exquisitely hand-made, incredibly expensive shoes and handbags.
Choo was born in Penang, Malaysia, and studied at Cordwainers’ Technical College. Born into a family of shoemakers, it comes as no surprise that he created his first shoe at the tender age of 11.
A piece of trivia that most people are unaware of is that Jimmy Choo’s name is actually Jimmy Chow. When he was born the registrar spelled his name incorrectly on his birth certificate, resulting in the now well-known name of Jimmy Choo – a name that makes shoe- savvy women swoon.
In May of 1996 Tamara Mellon, former UK Vogue accessories editor, bought 50% of Choo’s company and she along with Choo’s niece, Sandra Choi, then launched the ready-to-wear line.
Since then the company has expanded across the globe and garnered a slew of celebrity clientele. The late Diana, Princess of Wales, was a huge fan of Choo’s designs. He is said to have lost count of the number of shoes he made for Princess Diana. After she separated from Prince Charles she was frequently seen out and about in his delicate high-heeled shoes, a style that she could not wear when she was still with her shorter husband.
In June 2003, Jimmy Choo was awarded an OBE by the Queen of England, for his services in making London the design center of the world for the fashion industry.
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