JIMMY CHOO BAGS

JIMMY CHOO IS A HIGH-END SHOES AND HANDBAGS BRAND FROM THE UK FAVORITE OF CELEBRITIES

JIMMY CHOO’S HISTORY

Founded at: London, United Kingdom

Year: 1996

Headquarters: London, United Kingdom

Jimmy Choo the shoe and fashion company bears the name of  shoe designer Jimmy Choo Yeang Keat.  He was born in Malaysia in 1948. His father was a cobbler who had a shop in the island of Penang in Malaysia. From a young age Jimmy Choo would go to help at his father’s shop where he learned the art of making shoes. He made at the age of 11 a pair of leather slippers for his mother.  In his 30s he moved to London to study shoe design at the then Cordwainers Technical College (now the London College of Fashion).

In 1983 he graduated and started his own company named “Lucky Shoes”, he opened his first store in 1986 in an abandoned Hospital building in London’s East End.  In his store he handcrafted bespoke shoes for private clients where he became known for his quality products and original designs.

In 1988 he premiered his first shoe collection during London’s Fashion Week. His collection caught the eye of editors at British Vogue magazine and they dedicated  an eight page spread to showcase his designs. Subsequently, British Vogue’s accessories editor Tamara Mellon hired him to design shoes for several photo shoots.  By then his name had become a frequent thing in British Vogue’s glossy pages. His new prominence attracted collaborations with other well known designers and famous clients like Kylie Minogue, Boy George, and Janet Jackson.  His most well known client was princess Diana. He often met with her at Kensington palace to discuss shoe designs and he created several pairs for her.

In 1996 he partnered with Tamara Mellon who by then had already left Vogue, and they founded the company Jimmy Choo Ltd.   They opened that same year  their first store in London’s Motcomb St. an area famous for its high-end fashion boutiques.

In 1998 they opened their first store in the U.S.

In 2000 the name became iconic in world wide high fashion when the character “Carrie Bradshaw” played by  Sarah Jessica Parker in the iconic for fashionistas TV series Sex & The City said the famous phrase: “I lost my Choo!”, when one of her high heels fell off while running trying to catch the Staten Island Ferry. That character was known to love Jimmy Choo shoes.  That same year the company expanded to sell other accessories.

Jimmy Choo the designer sold his share of the business in 2001 due to disagreements with Tamara Mellon about the future of the company.

During the next 16 years the company exchanged partners and owners a number of times,  including Phoenix Equity, Equinox, Lion Capital TowerBrook Capital partners, Gala Capital and Labelux. 

The company was bought by Michael Kors in 2017.

Jimmy Choo offers: Shoes, Bags, Accessories, Apparel, Beauty, Bridal, Made-to-order.