Dato’ Jimmy Choo, OBE Jimmy Choo Yeang Keat (Chinese: ; pinyin: “Zhu Yngji”), (created 15 November 1961) is a Malaysian fashion designer located in the UK. He’s famous for co-founding Jimmy Choo Ltd that became known for the handcrafted women’s shoes.
Choo was born in Penang, Malaysia, into a family of shoemakers. Choo graduated from Cordwainers Technical College in Hackney (now section of the London College of Fashion) in 1983. Choo worked part time at eateries and as a cleaner in a shoe factory to help finance his college education. After graduation Choo started work in a store in Hackney which he opened in 1986 by renting an old hospital building. His craftsmanship and layouts were soon discovered and his creations became featured in eight pages in a 1988 problem of Vogue. Patronage from Diana, Princess of Wales from 1990 additionally fostered his picture. In April 2001, Choo sold his 50% stake in the business for 10 million. He’s since focused his focus on the exclusive Jimmy Choo Couture line made under license from Jimmy Choo Ltd. The Jimmy Choo London line, also called Jimmy Choo Ready To Wear or, only, Jimmy Choo, is below the purview of Mellon. The ready to wear line has expanded to include accessories like handbags. Choo lives in London and is now involved with a project to set up a shoemaking institute in Malaysia. His business continues to make high-priced high end shoes. Jimmy Choo is a Malaysian born fashion designer based from the UK. In 1996, he began Jimmy Choo.