DREAM SHOES TO CHOO's FROM
Jimmy Choo is a Malaysian fashion Designer based in London, United Kingdom. He is of Chinese, Malaysian and Hakka descent.He was born in Penang, Malaysia into a family of shoemakers. His father was a successful shoemaker that taught him most of his skills which led to his success. He would watch his father painstakingly handstitch the soles of his customer's shoes and soon with his father's guidance made his first pair of shoes for his mother when he was 12. His father's words steered him in the right direction, if you have a skill, you can travel the world with it.
Choo in his early 20's he came to London and studied in Cordwainers Technical College in London Borough of Hackney and graduated in 1983. He could could be considered the most notable student of the school for his achievements. Jimmy Choo supported his education by working part-time at restaurants and a cleaner at a shoe factory. The College is now part of the London College of Fashion where Choo is now an Ambassador for Footwear Education.
After graduating Choo opened his workshop in London Borough of Hackney, North London in 1986. it was an old hospital building. He is an artisan like his father and his craftmanship and designs were soon noticed and became internationally notable when his creations were featured in a record 8 pages in a 1988 issue of Vogue magazine.
Another patron that aided his fame was Princess Diana of Wales which he first met at his London Studio in 1986 where he cobbled 2 pairs a day. For the first 7 years of making shoes for her, Choo kept a low profile and nobody knew she was wearing his creations. Later on people came to know and further boosted his image. When he started doing evening shoes for her everybody noticed and followed. His last pair of shoes done for Princess Diana was a Gold pumps which he wasn't able to deliver before she died.
In 1996, he co-founded Jimmy Choo Ltd with British Vogue accessories editor Tamara Mellon. But in April 2001, Choo sold his 50% stake in the company for £10 million. He has since been concentrating his work on the exclusive Jimmy Choo Couture line produced under license from Jimmy Choo Ltd. The Jimmy Choo London line, also known as Jimmy Choo Ready-To-Wear or, simply, Jimmy Choo, is under the purview of Tamara Mellon. The ready-to-wear line has expanded to include accessories such as handbags. Jimmy Choo Ltd. produces some of the expensive high-end shoes.
Mellon is now launching a "cheap chic" designer collaboration with high-street fashion chain H&M, which includes not only affordable Jimmy Choo shoes - with zebra-print studded ballet pumps at pounds 49.99 a pair - but also a spin-off clothing range with skinny jeans, leather leggings, and 80s-inspired bomber jackets for men.
Jimmy Choo now is focused on creating couture footwear for individual clients which he seems to prefer and does best and appears relieved that he stepped out of the limelight. He is now currently involved in a project in Malaysia to set up a Shoemaking Institute. He became an iconic inspiration for budding shoemakers and fashion designers all over the world.
Since his split with Mellon, Choo has concentrated on handmaking bespoke shoes for his Jimmy Choo Couture label in the basement workshop of his only shop, on Connaught Street. For each pair, every angle and arch of his clients' feet are meticulously measured.
Choo is passionate about passing skills from generation to generation, and mentors young shoe designers while taking on apprentices as often as he can. "Britain is the best place for an education - that's why I came here. It taught me the rest of my skill. It also has a strong history and tradition for shoe-making, but it is dying or going abroad to Italy, where there is more manufacturing, or China, where labour is cheap.
Quotes from Jimmy Choo:
"In the old days, parents liked to pass their skills on to their children. They still do in my home country and much of Europe, but not so much here. I had dinner with Gordon [Brown] a few weeks ago, and I told him all this. I said we must support the young people. He agreed with my message."
"I design like an architect," he says. "It's a beautiful, distinctive art, and shoes are like the foundations. If the foundations aren't right, the building won't stand upright, and if a woman's balance isn't right, nothing else is."
The skill and labour of love that goes into creating a pair of couture Jimmy Choo shoes does not come cheap. Prices start at pounds 650 a pair, and the more elaborate designs can cost double that. But his clients have not dwindled during the recession.
"My shoes are beautiful, but they fit and they last," he says. "Yes, there are cheaper dressy shoes on the high street, which is good for choice, but do they fit properly and will they last? My clients keep my shoes forever."
JIMMY CHOO FLAGSHIP STORE IN SINGAPORE
In addition to On Pedder at takashimaya that sells Jimmy Choo shoes, comes a Flagship store in Paragon. It is considered the second larget in Asia, being Japan as first. Boasting an area of 1500 sq ft it is designed like a 1940's boutique with hues of ivory, pale rose and sand. Wall paneling of satin boiserie, mother of pearl finishes and crystal drop chandeliers add glamour to the already
The a pair of Jimmy Choo shoes price starts from sgd 900- 3000 and will be opening the Paragon flagship store in Singapore with its limited edition 'Kristelle' shoe priced at $2339 at only one pair per size available in two colours: gunmetal pixelated leather and metallic gold nappa.
“I want it to feel as though you are walking into a lady’s dressing room, a woman’s boudoir.” says Tamara Mellon, Jimmy Choo president and founder.
This shop is an elevated upgrade from the first store in Takashimaya that opened here 2 years ago. The Jimmy Choo Paragon store showcases an extensive selection of shoes, handbags, small leather goods and sunglasses. In addition, it is the only store in the region with a complete bridal shoe collection.
The new Jimmy Choo boutique is located at Paragon #01-10.
Jimmy Choo is one of two shoe brands that often pepper conversations of the Sex and the City ladies and a favourite of Hollywood stars for that red carpet strut.
The Paragon store coincides with a period of worldwide expansion for the brand; with recent store launches in prime locations such as Paris Rue Saint Honore, Rome Via Condotti, Barcelona, Cannes, Munich, and Tokyo Ginza, joining well established locations in cities such as London, New York and Beverly Hills.
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