London couture shoes turned global accessible-luxury brand.
Jimmy Choo Couture was founded in 1996 by Malaysian-born London shoemaker Jimmy Choo and Vogue UK accessories editor Tamara Mellon. Choo had been making custom shoes for Princess Diana since 1990.
Mellon bought out Choo himself in 2001 and ran the brand commercially through multiple ownerships — Hicks Muse (2001), Lion Capital (2007), Towerbrook (2011), JAB (2014). Acquired by Michael Kors Holdings in 2017 for $1.2 billion, becoming Capri Holdings.
Founded 1996.
Jimmy Choo was born in Penang, Malaysia in 1948, the son of a shoemaker. He moved to London in 1980, trained at Cordwainers Technical College, and by 1986 was making bespoke women's shoes from a small Hackney workshop. Princess Diana commissioned shoes from him from 1990 until her death in 1997 — over fifty pairs.
Tamara Mellon, then Vogue UK's accessories editor, met Choo in 1995 and persuaded him to launch a ready-to-wear shoe line. They founded Jimmy Choo Couture together in 1996. Carrie Bradshaw — Sex and the City premiered in 1998 — made the brand globally famous within five years.
After multiple ownership changes (Hicks Muse, Lion Capital, Towerbrook, JAB), Jimmy Choo was acquired by Michael Kors Holdings in November 2017 for $1.2 billion. Michael Kors Holdings renamed itself Capri Holdings after also acquiring Versace in 2018.
1 era of creative direction.
Sandra Choi, Jimmy Choo's niece, was at the brand from the founding and became sole creative director after Jimmy Choo himself exited in 2001. Twenty-eight years at the design helm — one of the longest single-CD tenures in modern luxury.
7 icons. Each one a scene; each scene a gallery.
Crystal-embellished compact clutch.
Geometric structured clutch.
Top-handle satchel.
Chain-strap shoulder bag.
Quilted shoulder bag.
Soft slouchy hobo.
Star-charm crossbody.