Birth Name: Jimmy Choo Yeang Keat
Born: November 15, 1948 in George Town, Penang, Malaysia of Asian descent
*Made his first shoe at the age of 11 years old with the help of his father
* Graduated from Cordwainers Technical College in Hackney (now part of the London College of Fashion) in 1983
*Worked at a restaurant and shoe store cleaning to support himself through school
*After finishing school in 1986, Choo opened his first shoe store
*By 1988 Choo started to receive recognition for his designs and was featured in an 8 page spread of Vogue.
*In 1996 he co-founded Jimmy Choo Ltd with British Vogue magazine accessories editor Tamara Mellon
*In April 2001, Choo sold his 50% stake in the company for £10 million and decided to concentrate on his couture line
-Mellon oversees the “Ready to Wear” that includes accessories and handbags
*Merchandise can be found in over 150 outlets and 32 countries
Did You Know?
*Choo’s last name was incorrectly spelled on his birth certificate and instead of “Chow” he received the name “Choo”
* He is working on a shoemaking institute in Malaysia
*He lives in London and has a son and daughter
*Received recognition from Princess Diana of Wales in 1990 that helped further boosted his image