A Focus on Dato' Jimmy Choo

       He is a Malaysian fashion designer based in the United Kingdom. He is best known for co-founding Jimmy Choo Ltd that became known for its handmade women's shoes.

He was born in 15 November 1948 in Penang, Malaysia. He learned how to make shoes from his father and successfully made his own first shoe during he was 11 years old.  In 1983, Dato’ Jimmy Choo graduated from Cordwainers Technical College in Hackney and he started to at a shop in Hackney which he opened in 1986 by renting an old hospital building. In 1988, his designs were soon noticed by being published in a 1988 issue ofVogue. In 1990, his image was further improved when he received sponsorship from Diana, Princess of Wales.

In 1996, Dato’Jimmy Choo has co-founded Jimmy Choo Ltd with Tamara Mellon who was British Voguemagazine accessories editor. However, after Dato’Jimmy Choo sold his 50% stake in the company for £10 million in April 2001, he then paid more focus on the exclusive Jimmy Choo Couture line which produced under license from Jimmy Choo Ltd. After that, Jimmy Choo Ready-To-Wear line or Jimmy Choo London line has expanded to include not only womens’ shoes but also accessories such as handbags. His brand shines where celebrities have brought it to the red carpet. 

1.    Networked

Dato’ Jimmy Choo has displayed good networked traits as a successful entrepreneur. His network has started in 1988 when he was showing his designing shoes at London Fashion Week. At that time, nobody know Jimmy Choo but he was very lucky as Vogue’s Kate Phelan saw his shoes and told him that it would be put in theVogue magazine. It was a great start for Jimmy Choo and it then has drawn the attentions and interest from Princess Diana who donned his Choo’s footwear almost at every place that she went. Vogue has raised up Jimmy Choo brand and then it also drew attention from an accessories editor atVogue named Tamara Mellon and then both Choo and Mellon became partners when founded Jimmy Choo Ltd.  However, after their collaboration stop, Jimmy Choo’s network has not put to a stop.

In 2014, Dato’ Jimmy Choo’s network further developed when he worked very closely with Tourism Malaysia. He was chosen as an ambassador and organize plenty television shows as well as press interview. Besides, he also worked closely with London College of Fashion with purpose to promote education and more new designers to come to Malaysia.  Furthermore, in recent years, Dato’ Jimmy Choo has also became an Ambassador for Footwear Education at the London College of Fashion and spokesperson for the British Council in its efforts to reach out to foreign students.

All these have formed a great network and helped Dato’Jimmy Choo achieved another great success not only in overseas country but also in his native country, Malaysia.

2.    Outcome Oriented                  

His brand has started beginning of a shoemaker based in the East End of London in the early 1990s. Jimmy choo working with his nephew Sandra Choi. Jimmy Choo brand that has cut sexy and stylish design has been melonjok brand with immediate effect. Jimmy Choo’s company's goal is to create a global business with attractive luxury foreign and local investors. Jimmy Choo is the first to bring shoes and handbags to Hollywood to make a red carpet as evidence an excellent foundation for the brand's quality.

In order to achieve his desired outcome, retail development has played an important role in the company's strategy jimmy choo first opened in 1996 in the London. Jimmy Company completed the distribution in some stores of various brands. After that, company expanded in the US and opened two more stores in New York and Beverly International Hills. Expansiondiscontinued when jimmy choo start earning retail location in the City. Jimmy Choo has a wide range of shops 167 stores in 35 countries. Jimmy Choo became a partner in creating the vision of the goal to raise one of the most valuable luxury brands in the world.

Jimmy Choo entrepreneurship start already includes a complete range of luxury accessories such as designer women's shoes as their main product and handbags, small leather goods, eyewear, fragrance and men's shoes. In October Jimmy Choo PLC is listed on the London Stock Exchange. 

3.    Visionary

Jimmy Choo is a creative and innovative entrepreneur. Besides, he is also a high visionary person. He was inspired and inspiring designs from nature like trees and flowers and the environment such as interior decoration in the places he visited. Although he encountered many obstacles before finally the attitude of enthusiasm to overcome many obstacles in order to pursue his ambition to lead the brand Jimmy Choo up until now.

He is currently involved in a project to set up a shoemaking institute in Malaysia, where his iconic status raises often inspire budding shoemakers and fashion designers.In addition, the outlook for success in any business of Datuk Jimmy Choo never considered himself the best because this principle is very important even if one day you become a famous fashion designers in the world.As designer shoes, the highlight of his shoes Jimmy when received and used in around the world, not only in Malaysia. Besides that, the success obtained today as the ratio for natural gas. If determination had to choose between career and family, Jimmy quickly answered would choose to share love with their big family.

4.    Observant

  Choo started from the bottom, learned from his father. His father was a successful shoemaker that taught him most of his skills which led to his success. He would watch his father painstakingly handstitch the soles of his customer's shoes and soon with his father's guidance made his first pair of shoes for his mother when he was 12. His father's words steered him in the right direction which the word emphasized on the importance of skills. Choo confessed that his father always wanted him to sit and watch how to make a shoe and finally he did successfully make a shoe after months.

Moreover, he is alert and always keeps up to date to the latest fashion trend. Choo describes that a good pair of shoes is designed with strong foundation, and we should apply this principle in our daily life.

Lastly, Choo also sticks to his main goal, which is to focus on creating couture footwear for individual clients who he seems to prefer and does best and appears relieved that he stepped out of the limelight. He also thinks shoes can change a woman's personality and loves playing an important role in their lives. He said: "We all wear shoes, every day - we have to. So they are a very important part of your wardrobe. They say something about the way you hold your body. Shoes must be elegant, comfortable. They affect the person's personality." For Choo, creating a name and maintaining a legacy of craftsmanship, work ethics and continuous growth, along with remaining true to your roots is the key to ensuring longevity in the industry. 

    5.    Open risk taker

Despite the rise of his popularity, Choo dared to face the risk because his company was still a small operation, he made 20 hand-made pairs shoes a week. But Tamara Mellon, an accessories editor at Vogue, who often hired him to make shoes for fashion shoots, sensed a larger market for Choo's creations. She approached the shoemaker about partnering to create a line of ready-to-wear footwear to expand her empire. Together, Choo and Mellon quickly grew the business, keeping the focus on creating high-end footwear, but no longer relying on the idea that every single pair had to be made by Choo himself. They contracted with Italian factories and opened their first boutique shop in London. By the late 1990s, Choo had stores in Los Angeles and New York and lineup of adoring Hollywood celebrities that included well-known people such as Julia Roberts and Renee Zellweger.

In 2001, Choo sold his half of the company to Equinox Luxury Holdings for $30 million. This example has demonstrated how brave Jimmy Choo in taking risk. He did not worry on whether he would lose a lot of money after selling the 50% shares. Today, Jimmy Choo has returned to London which has roots of his small shop, which serves as the headquarters for the exclusive Jimmy Choo Couture line. It's here that Choo crafts a small number of pairs of shoes each week and trains a select group of numerous students on how to make high-end footwear.  Even though he has sold out his 50% stake which was actually have risk, but he is now working very well on his business and still gaining the good profit as well as the reputation not only in Malaysia but also in the stage of global.