Jimmy Choo (Malaysia, England) designer handbags and purses

Jimmy Choo is a British luxury fashion house specializing in shoes, handbags, accessories, and fragrances. The company, J. Choo Limited, was founded in 1996 by Malaysian Chinese couture shoe designer Jimmy Choo and British Vogue accessories editor Tamara Mellon.

Jimmy Choo was born in 1948 in the Crown Colony of Penang, British Malaya, into a family of shoemakers. Of Chinese descent, his family name is Chow, but was misspelled on his birth certificate as Choo. Choo's father, a shoemaker who made all of his shoes by hand, taught him the craft. "My parents were shoemakers and I have followed my father's lead. He inspired me," said Jimmy Choo. He made his first pair of shoes when he was 11 years old, a pair of slippers. Between 1982 and 1984, Choo studied at Cordwainers Technical College in Hackney (now part of the London College of Fashion) in London.

After more... graduating, Choo worked as a freelance shoemaker for several years, making shoes for celebrities and fashion designers. In 1986, he opened his first shop in London's East End. His craftsmanship and designs soon caught the attention of the fashion world, and he was featured in Vogue magazine in 1988. Patronage from Princess Diana in the early 1990s further boosted his image.

In 1996, Choo partnered with Tamara Mellon, then-accessories editor at British Vogue, to launch Jimmy Choo Ltd. The company quickly became a global success, and its shoes were worn by celebrities such as Kate Moss, Angelina Jolie, and Jennifer Lopez. In 2001, the company went public on the London Stock Exchange.

In 2011, Choo stepped down as creative director of the company. He remained a shareholder and ambassador for the brand until 2017, when he sold his remaining shares. The brand claims to have been a favourite of Diana, Princess of Wales. The company was listed on the London Stock Exchange until it was acquired in November 2017 by Michael Kors Holdings, now Capri Holdings, a fashion conglomerate that also owns Michael Kors and Versace. The company continues to be a leading luxury footwear brand, with stores in over 70 countries. Its shoes are known for their high quality, craftsmanship, and glamorous designs. less...