Dato' Jimmy Choo OBE, born Jimmy Choo Yeang Keat, (Chinese: 周仰杰) is a London-based luxury fashion designer best known for his hand-made women's shoes, Jimmy Choo Ltd.
Choo is a Malaysian citizen of Hakka Chinese descent, who was born in Penang in 1961 into a family of shoemakers. He made his first shoe when he was 11 years old. Jimmy Choo's beginnings can be traced back to his workshop in Hackney, East London, which he opened in 1986 by renting an old hospital building. His craftsmanship and designs were soon noticed and he came to the verge of international fame when his creations were featured in a record eight pages in a 1988 issue of Vogue magazine. Patronage from Diana, Princess of Wales from 1990 onwards further boosted his image.
Jimmy Choo himself has concentrated his work on the exclusive Jimmy Choo Couture line produced under license from Jimmy Choo Ltd. The Jimmy Choo London line, also known as Jimmy Choo ready-to-wear or simply, Jimmy Choo, is now under the purview of Tamara Mellon and Sandra Choi. The ready-to-wear line has expanded to include accessories such as handbags.
Jimmy Choo has created many handbags that have become celebrities' favorites right alongside his famous footwear. One of Jimmy Choo handbags that has often been seen in photographs of celebrities is the Marin oversized clutch . Fans of the bag vary from classic Victoria Beckham to pop princess Hilary Duff. Because of the popularity of the oversized handbag trend, the Marin has quickly become a highly demanded bag inspiring Jimmy Choo to release it in a variety of colors and patterns.
Today, The Jimmy Choo International flagship store is in Connaught Street in London.
