Name: Jimmy Choo Yeang Keat, (Chineese: 周仰杰) )
Year of Birth: 1961
Place of Birth: Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
University: Cordwainers Technical College in London Borough of Hackney, London.
Education: 1) Primary School: Shih Chung primary school up to Year Six
Education: 1) Primary School: Shih Chung primary school up to Year Six
2) Secondary School: -
3) College: London College of Fashion
Occupation: Designer
Jimmy Choo was born in Penang, Malaysia in 1961 into a family of shoe makers. He made his first shoe when he was only 11 years old. He attended Cordwainers's Technical College in London and the London College of Fashion.
All Jimmy Choo Couture shoes are hand-made, his unrivalled craftsmanship is demonstrated with obsessive attention to detail. Jimmy Choo Couture Shoes compliment the very finest designer clothing.
Jimmy Choo's style is always elegant, feminine and occasionally seductive. Jimmy Choo Couture shoes were favoured by the Princess of Wales, who would buy one style in several colours for evening wear and to coordinate with her day suits. Jimmy Choo lost count of the number of shoes he made for Princess Diana. After the separation she could frequently be seen in his delicate high-heeled shoes, a style that she could not wear when walking with her shorter husband.
Jimmy Choo is no longer directly associated with the Jimmy Choo ready to wear design house which he founded in 1996 with Tamara Yeardye Mellon. He now concentrates his efforts on Jimmy Choo Couture footwear.
Luxury accessories brand Jimmy Choo has garnered an extremely loyal clientele - many of whom are a-list style icons like Nicole Kidman, Gwyneth Paltrow and First Lady Michelle Obama (who wore the white satin 'Dale' sandal to the presidential Inauguration Ball), indeed company president Tamara Mellon regularly decamps to Hollywood to provide footwear for her eager clientele during awards season. Put a fabulous spring to your step with their pumps, sandals and boots and the to-die-for selection of bags, totes and clutches. 
Jimmy Choo graduated from Cordwainers (now part of LCF) in 1983. He founded his own couture label in the late 1980s and made Jimmy Choo shoes synonymous with the Oscars and famous actresses. Jimmy Choo's clients include royalty, film stars, pop stars and many other celebrities. In 2000 he received the honorary title Dato (equivalent to a knighthood) from the Sultan of Pahang in recognition of his contribution to Malaysia. In 2002 he received an OBE.
Jimmy Choo, maker of glamorous accessories favoured by International stars and elegant women worldwide, was launched in 1996.
As accessories editor at Vogue UK, Tamara Yeardye Mellon sensed a real demand for stylish but wearable shoes and approached Mr Jimmy Choo, a couture shoe-maker based in the East End of London, recognised for his excellent craftsmanship.
Tamara partnered with Mr Jimmy Choo to start the ready to wear company and sourced factories in Italy to produce the shoes on a larger scale. Consequently, plans were made to open the first Jimmy Choo stand alone boutique and to develop the wholesale business throughout the fashion capitals of the world.
In April 2001, the expansion of jimmy Choo took a significant step forward wit the announcement of a new partnership with Equinox Luxury Holdings Ltd. Equinox acquired Mr Choo's share of the ready to wear business with Robert Bensoussan, Equinox's chief executive becoming CEO of Jimmy Choo. Within 3 years, the company opened twenty six new stores, (in addition to the existing four) and introduced both handbag and small leather goods collections.
This was followed by another dramatic move on 19th November 2004 with Hicks Muse (Europe) announcing the acquistion of a majority shareholding in Jimmy Choo, in a transaction valuing the company at 101 million.
With the ethos in both design and outlook remaining the same, Jimmy Choo is looking to expand which will result the opening of up to 50 stores by 2008.
Back from London to receive award
Choo showing his award to wife Rebecca and daughter Emily. MOST people know Datuk Jimmy Choo Yeang Keat as the world famous shoe designer whose clientele includes Hollywood celebrities and members of royalty.
Few are, however, aware of the humble beginnings of the Penang-born who only studied until Year Six and worked his way up from cleaning the toilet at a shoe factory in London and surviving on instant noodles.
Choo's love affair with shoes started when he was a child in the 1970s. He had to help at his father's shoemaker shop in Penang Road.
He studied at Shih Chung primary school up to Year Six and after that, he had to help his late father, Choo Kee Yin, at his shop where he learnt shoe-making skills.
It was during a holiday trip in London in the 1980s that Choo heard of Cortwainers College, now known as London College of Fashion. He decided to study footwear and shoe designing in the college.
His father paid for the college fees for the first year but for the remaining three years, he had to work part-time in restaurants and a shoe factory to pay for the fees and my living costs. He had to do odd jobs at the factory such as cleaning the toilet and sweeping the floor.
In 1986, Choo set up his own shoe workshop by renting an old hospital building in London.
Soon, his shoes were featured in more fashion magazines and Choo started to earnestly design shoes for couture fashion shows.
Though he was steadily gain- ing recognition in fashion maga- zines and fashion shows, he was not making money because he had very few clients. He was so poor that he could only afford to eat steamed chicken or curry chicken and sometimes, just instant noodles.
His reputation in producing elegant, feminine, custom made shoes reached the ears of the late Princess Diana in 1990 and she became his regular client. His business then started to flourish.
Today, Choo is an internationally renowned couture shoe designer and also a spokesman for the British Council, the ambassador for Footwear Education and a visiting professor at London College of Fashion.
Although he resides in London most of the time, he still considers himself a Penangite at heart.
Speaking at a press conference after attending a small cocktail reception at Rasa Sayang Hotel, Choo said he was very proud to be Malaysian, especially so, a Penangite.
"Being conferred this award is like a dream come true for me as it comes from Penang, where my roots are," he said.
Choo received the award from Abdul Rahman at the latter's newly refurbished official residence.
Jimmy Choo's London Fashion of Collague Interview.
Why did you chose to study at LCF?
It's a world renowned college with top class experienced lecturers.
Where was your first student flat?
Hackney.
Did you ever blow your month's rent on clothes?
No, never.
What is your idea of a perfect saturday?
Spending time with my family.
What is your most treasured possession?
My Buddhist pendant. I wear it everyday.
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
When the University of the Arts gave me recognition by awarding me a fellowship and Her Royal Highness the Queen gave me an OBE.
Sum up your LCF experience in three words?
Exciting, Knowledge, Skill.
If you could have your time again would you study at LCF?
Definitely.
Can you remember the names of your fellow students / lecturers / technicians?
Yes, I'm still in contact with many of them.
Biggest fashion mistake?
I don't like to dwell on mistakes! I like to look to the future.
What keeps you awake at night?
I love my work so much I can never switch off when I go home. I am constantly thinking of ways to improve.
Name three things you always carry with you?
Watch, mobile and pen.
What makes you happy?
My family's happiness
What makes you sad?
To lose someone I love.
Tell us a secret.
Secrets I keep to myself...
Personal Response
The reason we have chosen Datuk Jimmy Choo as our role model for this assigment is because of his great personality. His talent and creativity in shoe designing would not hae been discovered without his hardwork. We also admire his patience in going through obstacles to succeed his work which led him to fame and success as he is now. Despite being well known globally for his creativity in shoe fashion, Datuk Jimmy Choo is a humble and down to earth person.
Awards
- 2000: Bestowed a state award carrying the title of Dato' by the Sultan of Pahang state in Malaysia for his achievements
- 2002: Conferred an OBE by Queen ElizabethII in recognition of his services to the shoe and fashion industry in the United Kingdom
- 2004: Awarded the Darjah Setia Pangkuan Negeri by the Yang di-Pertua Negeri (Governor) of his home state of Penang, which also carries the title Dato'
- Awarded a fellowship by the University of the Arts London, conferring the use of the title Professor
Refrences
http:// Back from London to receive award AllMalaysia.info, 27 August 2004^ http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-08/11/content_11860611.htm^ Penang Yang di-Pertua Negri’s birthday honours list TheStar.com.my, 10 July 2004 http://www.fashion.arts.ac.uk/27925.htm
http://www.kitmeout.com/jimmy_choo.phpGroup Members:
Nur Farah Dinah
Nurul Adlina Syazwani
Sarah Nabihah
Punietha
Today I received my first pair of Christian louboutin pumps .from http://www.popstyleshos.com , so beautiful !
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