Footwear designer to walk a mile in Irish shoes

THE world’s best-known shoe-maker Jimmy Choo said he hopes to live out his lifelong dream of coming to Ireland soon to get some inspiration to design his world-famous footwear.

He said he would like to learn from his favourite clothes designer John Rocha, who made his name after moving from Hong Kong to Ireland where he picked up traditional clothes-making methods and gave them a modern edge.

“I love everything about your country. It is a dream for me to go to Ireland, and I think this year I will go there. if you want me to be there I will be there very soon. I think Irish girls are very beautiful and I hope they love me as much as I love them,” said Choo in an interview with the Irish Examiner at London Fashion Week.

“Irish people are very trendy, they are hard working, and like having all the family together and they have a big appreciation of friendship. I very much respect the Irish nation and I would like to learn from them as well

“What I know about Irish design is from John Rocha. John is my idol, he is my God. I know him for many years. He is calm and kind to people. As well as learning from his design, young people should learn by the way he behaves.

“He should be an ambassador for Ireland and teach the people how to be peaceful,” said Choo.

The professor in fashion, OBE and DATO — a Malaysian title conferred by royals — now runs the Jimmy Choo Couture range, under licence from Jimmy Choo Ltd — the company he set up before it was taken over by his niece and a former Vogue magazine stylist.

He comes from a family of shoe makers from Penang in Malaysia — a popular spot with Irish backpackers. He started making shoes when he was just 11, after completing his six years of education.

As a young man he moved to London where he started working out of an old hospital building in 1986. He became famous two years later when his shoes featured in Vogue magazine and were subsequently worn by Princess Diana. The brand has become a popular name from TV programmes like Sex and the City.

At the time he was featured in Vogue, his wife’s niece, Sandra Choi, began to work with him as an apprentice. In the mid 1990s Vogue’s accessories editor and IT girl Tamara Mellon, whose father owned the Vidal Sassoon hair care company, presented them with a business plan and set up Jimmy Choo Ltd, of which she owned 50%, and opened a number of international stores.

In 2002, Choi joined Mellon and the two became co-owners of the company, leaving Choo with no share of the company and a payment of £10 million.

He now owns the exclusive branch of the brand, Jimmy Choo Couture, making hand-made, high-design shoes by appointment for big international stars, which start at prices of around €400.

Shoes may be what he is known for, but the most treasured thing Jimmy Choo wears is a Buddhist pendant around his neck, which he never takes off.

For many, his name may be associated with consumerism and wealth, but Jimmy Choo is more concerned with world peace than he is with fashion.

“I work with young students from Malaysia. I like to do talks and have seminars. The young generation need to be calm and not angry. I want to use my image to show young people that they should love each other and to make the world more peaceful,” he said.