Jimmy Choo

Jimmy Choo is a name synonymous with luxury, elegance, and footwear innovation. Born in Penang, Malaysia, in 1948, he learned shoemaking in his family's workshop and honed his craft at the esteemed Cordwainers Technical College in London, earning the title the press gave him — cobbler to the world's stars. In 1996 he co-founded the Jimmy Choo label in London, and his creations have graced the feet of celebrities, royalty and fashion enthusiasts worldwide ever since. This page profiles the designer and the history of the brand his name built.

The brand's first London boutique made it a favorite among celebrities and royalty — one of its early adopters was Diana, Princess of Wales, whose patronage carried Jimmy Choo into the international fashion spotlight. The designer's own story and the label's later history are related but separate, and this profile keeps them in order: the craftsman first, then the company that grew from his name.

Illustrative image created for this guide — an artistic impression, not this designer's own garments.

The Craftsman: Penang, Cordwainers and the Stars

Choo's journey began at the workbench: born into a family of shoemakers in Penang, he made his first pair of shoes as a boy and learned the trade as a craft before it became a brand. At Cordwainers Technical College in London — the historic school of the shoe trade — the training became formal, and in London his bespoke workshop built the reputation that mattered: shoes made by hand, for individual clients, with a finish that actresses and society clients passed on by word of mouth. The title that followed — cobbler to the world's stars — was earned at that bench, one commission at a time.

The craftsmanship distinguished itself by combining traditional construction with a modern, glamorous aesthetic: a stiletto engineered to be walked in, evening shoes treated as jewelry for the feet. That focus on creating stylish and comfortable footwear made the name a favorite among fashion-conscious women seeking beauty that did not punish the wearer — the standard the label still trades on.

The Label: 1996, the OBE and the Brand After Choo

In 1996 Jimmy Choo co-founded Jimmy Choo Ltd in London; his niece Sandra Choi became the label's creative director, and its sculptural stilettos became a red carpet standard — seen at the Oscars and film premieres on stars including Beyoncé, Sarah Jessica Parker and Jennifer Aniston. Royal recognition followed for the founder: he was awarded an OBE (Order of the British Empire) in 2002 for services to the fashion industry, and his designs remained favored by members of the British royal family. In 2001 he sold his 50 percent stake in the company, and the brand continued without its founder — diversifying into accessories, fragrances and ready-to-wear, and collaborating with partners including H&M.

In 2017 Michael Kors Holdings Limited acquired Jimmy Choo in a deal valuing the brand at $1.2 billion — a measure of how far a name built at a London workbench had traveled. The designer's legacy extends beyond the label: his journey from a small Malaysian town to a global fashion name remains the standard story told to aspiring footwear designers, and the women's footwear guide linked in the references places his work among the wider world of women's shoes.