JIMMY CHOO

(b. 1961)  Born into a family of Malaysian shoemakers, Jimmy Choo made his first pair of shoes when he was eleven years old.  He graduated from Cordwainers College in London and the London College of Fashion in 1989.  Princess Diana was his best client for bespoke footwear in the early 1990s and she was frequently seen wearing his shoes after her divorce.  In 1996 he went into partnership with Tamara Mellon, former British Vogue accessories editor, and launched a ready-to-wear line of shoes made in Italy.  Choo sold his share in 2001 and the company was sold in 2004.  Choo is no longer connected with the design of the ready-to-wear line.

Jimmy Choo was awarded an OBE by the Queen in June 2003 for his services in making London a fashion design centre.