10
周仰傑教授 殿堂鞋履設計大師 顯赫傳奇 前的周仰傑教授身穿筆挺的 直紋黑西裝,胸前插着純白 袋巾,腳踏一雙沉實黑皮 鞋,一派英國紳士翩翩風度。貴為國際 赫赫有名的鞋履設計大師,言談舉止謙 遜溫和,與他細膩靈巧的造鞋手藝可說 兩相契合。 細說從頭,周仰傑教授對造鞋的迷戀始 於童年,因為他的父親正是一位優秀的 鞋匠。“父親是廣東梅縣人,少年遠渡 南洋謀生,在馬來西亞跟隨師傅學造 鞋,經歷兩年艱苦的學徒生活,終能自 立門戶。”他說。 父親傳授技術畢生受用 “ 沒有父親的傳授,就沒有今天的我。” 周仰傑教授坦言,父親對他影響至深, 他之所以能夠以 Jimmy Choo Couture 闖出名堂,全憑當年跟隨父親學得精湛 的造鞋技術,為他日後遠赴英國留學及 開展輝煌事業埋下種子。 “ 在父親的年代,總希望子女學一門手 藝傍身,小時候每天放學後便跟隨父親 學造鞋,我真心喜歡這門手藝,一點被 迫的感覺也沒有,反而樂在其中,還可 鍛鍊我的忍耐力和恆心,這些都是為人 成功的關鍵。”就在 11 歲那年,周仰 傑教授親手造出平生第一雙鞋 給媽 媽的拖鞋。 遠赴英倫闖蕩歷練 父親在少年時選擇到馬來西亞謀求生 計,周仰傑教授於 1980 年代初則選擇 遠赴英國留學,於倫敦藝術大學康得 威那斯學院攻讀鞋履設計,英倫的濃厚 藝術文化氛圍激發他在鞋履設計的優厚 潛力,還有早年跟隨父親造鞋的實踐經 驗,最終周仰傑教授以優秀成績畢業, 並決定留在英國創立屬於自己的手造鞋 工作室。 只要定下目標,就要 全心全意去達成,凡事 用心、忍耐、負責任, 好好裝備知識和技術, 機會來到自能取得成 功。 默默耕耘終遇知音 負笈英國可說是周仰傑教授的人生轉捩 點,但成名之路並非順遂,也曾遭遇 挫折、低落,但他深信只要堅持,上 巧奪天工的手藝,華麗精緻的設計,出自周仰傑 教授之手的高跟鞋仿如藝術傑作,‘我會這樣形 容我的鞋:優雅、展現女性美態,還有舒適。每 個人的腳型都不同,唯有度身訂造的鞋方可穿得 貼服自在。’皇室成員、政商名流、演藝明星莫 不慕名而至,為的就是一雙具美感而舒適的訂造 高跟鞋。 天總會在某處為你開啟機會之門。“創 業之初,經常有時裝設計師向我訂製鞋 子供模特兒走天橋,即使沒有酬勞我都 樂意去做,好讓我的作品有更多曝光機 會。”終於,周仰傑教授的鞋遇到知 音,《Vogue》雜誌的編輯 Katie Feller 以長達八頁的篇幅介紹他和他的鞋,自 Jimmy Choo Couture 這個名字正式 登上國際時尚殿堂。“《Vogue》是世界 6 商薈 2011 7 Global Vision

香港中华总商会-会刊 2011-7

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周仰傑教授 ─殿堂鞋履設計大師顯赫傳奇

眼前的周仰傑教授身穿筆挺的

直紋黑西裝,胸前插着純白

袋巾,腳踏一雙沉實黑皮

鞋,一派英國紳士翩翩風度。貴為國際

赫赫有名的鞋履設計大師,言談舉止謙

遜溫和,與他細膩靈巧的造鞋手藝可說

兩相契合。

細說從頭,周仰傑教授對造鞋的迷戀始

於童年,因為他的父親正是一位優秀的

鞋匠。“父親是廣東梅縣人,少年遠渡

南洋謀生,在馬來西亞跟隨師傅學造

鞋,經歷兩年艱苦的學徒生活,終能自

立門戶。”他說。

父親傳授技術畢生受用

“沒有父親的傳授,就沒有今天的我。”

周仰傑教授坦言,父親對他影響至深,

他之所以能夠以 Jimmy Choo Couture

闖出名堂,全憑當年跟隨父親學得精湛

的造鞋技術,為他日後遠赴英國留學及

開展輝煌事業埋下種子。

“在父親的年代,總希望子女學一門手

藝傍身,小時候每天放學後便跟隨父親

學造鞋,我真心喜歡這門手藝,一點被

迫的感覺也沒有,反而樂在其中,還可

鍛鍊我的忍耐力和恆心,這些都是為人

成功的關鍵。”就在 11歲那年,周仰傑教授親手造出平生第一雙鞋 ─ 給媽媽的拖鞋。

遠赴英倫闖蕩歷練

父親在少年時選擇到馬來西亞謀求生

計,周仰傑教授於 1980年代初則選擇遠赴英國留學,於倫敦藝術大學康得

威那斯學院攻讀鞋履設計,英倫的濃厚

藝術文化氛圍激發他在鞋履設計的優厚

潛力,還有早年跟隨父親造鞋的實踐經

驗,最終周仰傑教授以優秀成績畢業,

並決定留在英國創立屬於自己的手造鞋

工作室。

只要定下目標,就要全心全意去達成,凡事

用心、忍耐、負責任,

好好裝備知識和技術,

機會來到自能取得成

功。

默默耕耘終遇知音

負笈英國可說是周仰傑教授的人生轉捩

點,但成名之路並非順遂,也曾遭遇

挫折、低落,但他深信只要堅持,上

巧奪天工的手藝,華麗精緻的設計,出自周仰傑

教授之手的高跟鞋仿如藝術傑作,‘我會這樣形

容我的鞋:優雅、展現女性美態,還有舒適。每

個人的腳型都不同,唯有度身訂造的鞋方可穿得

貼服自在。’皇室成員、政商名流、演藝明星莫

不慕名而至,為的就是一雙具美感而舒適的訂造

高跟鞋。

天總會在某處為你開啟機會之門。“創

業之初,經常有時裝設計師向我訂製鞋

子供模特兒走天橋,即使沒有酬勞我都

樂意去做,好讓我的作品有更多曝光機

會。”終於,周仰傑教授的鞋遇到知

音,《Vogue》雜誌的編輯 Katie Feller

以長達八頁的篇幅介紹他和他的鞋,自

此 Jimmy Choo Couture這個名字正式

登上國際時尚殿堂。“《Vogue》是世界

6 商 薈 ︱ 2 0 1 1 年 7 月

環 球 視 野 Global Vision

時裝界權威雜誌,不少時裝設計師夢寐

以求能夠佔上一篇半頁。當我親眼看到

這篇報道實在難以置信,電視台、報章

雜誌等不同媒體隨即蜂擁而至,亦為我

帶來與更多優秀時裝設計師的合作機

會。”

成為戴妃御用鞋匠

周仰傑教授那種優雅高貴的設計風格亦

深得已故戴安娜王妃的賞識,“戴妃御

用鞋匠”成為他最廣為人知的別號。

“我替戴妃造鞋一造便是七年,直至她

離世為止。”七年光景,擁有高尚品味

和氣質的戴妃穿上周仰傑教授親手造的

鞋走遍世界各地,出席大大小小的宴會

和慈善活動,他的鞋頓時成為時尚寵

兒。

今天,周仰傑教授談到與戴妃的相交相

知依然動容。“經一位英國設計師的引

薦,我有幸向戴妃送上一雙紅色的高跟

鞋,後來我在報章看到戴妃果然穿上這

雙高跟鞋出席活動。幾個星期後,我首

次前往肯辛頓宮拜會戴妃,眼前一列排

開服飾,原來戴妃即將外訪,希望我按

照服飾設計一系列鞋子,對我來說是個

千載難逢的機會。”自此周仰傑教授便

與戴妃成為朋友。

7CGCC VISION︱JUL 2011

相片提供

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ei's

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togr

aphy

)

戴妃的親切和藹固然令周仰傑教授懷

緬,但戴妃樂於接納的胸懷更令他敬

仰。“戴妃給予設計師很大自由度,沒

有太多要求,也鮮有退換設計。事實

上,Chanel、D&G、Gucci此等國際知

名品牌多如繁星,戴妃為何看上我的設

計呢?除了我手工不俗之外,更重要是

她期望透過自身影響力提攜英國本土設

計師。”

漸漸 Jimmy Choo Couture名聲遠播,

找他訂製鞋的盡是知名人物。流行曲天

后麥當娜穿上他的高跟鞋走進教堂成

婚,早前康沃爾公爵夫人卡米拉也是腳

踏他的高跟鞋出席威廉王子的婚禮。但

凡是各國皇室盛會、奧斯卡紅地毯等高

尚場合,總會看到周仰傑教授傾注心力

製造的高跟鞋奪目登場。

技術乃設計之本

由一間寂寂無聞的倫敦小店蛻變成女鞋

設計的殿堂人物,除了取決於天時、地

利、人和,周仰傑教授認為父親傳授的

造鞋技術令他畢生受用,因他深信技術

乃設計之本,因為徒具設計,不懂技

術,只是紙上談兵。“作為鞋履設計師

最基本要懂得造鞋的原理和過程,方可

造出舒適又美觀的鞋。設計可以天馬行

空,但實際操作又是否可行呢?很多設

計師忽略這點,從不鑽研技術,再高超

的設計亦只能永遠留在設計繪圖上。更

重要的是懂得技術便不用受制於人,完

成設計後可選擇自行製作樣品,即使交

由工廠製作樣品,也可在技術層面上給

予意見,不會一面倒由工廠作主導。”

靈感源自生活

周仰傑教授設計的女裝鞋,華麗、典

雅、前衛、復古兼而有之,日復日、年

8 商 薈 ︱ 2 0 1 1 年 7 月

環 球 視 野 Global Vision

復年的設計仍然不減周仰傑教授的創作

靈感,全因他熱愛生活、感受生活,無

時無刻從生活抽取創作養份。“周遭生

活眼所看到、耳所聽到、手所觸到都是

靈感所在,好像我剛剛走進這個會議

室,看到牆上掛着一幅中國書法的碑

刻,我也忍不住走近細看一番,或許某

天它可引發我的設計靈感。入行以來,

我亦與不少時裝設計師合作,他們風格

各異,彼此能夠互相啟發,每每擦出火

花。”

周仰傑教授笑言,他也是凡人一個,偶

有創作低潮亦無可避免,最重要是保持

正面心態。“有時畫了設計,造了出來

卻不甚滿意,那便重頭再來吧!以設計

創作為事業的人,總會有些‘事與願

違’的經歷,這是正常不過的事,切忌

周仰傑教授檔案

1961年 出生於馬來西亞檳城。

1983年 畢業於倫敦藝術大學康得威那斯學院(即今天的倫敦時尚學院),攻讀

鞋履設計。

1986年 在倫敦東部創立人手造鞋的工作室。

1988年 首度登上時尚雜誌《Vogue》。

1990年 開始為戴安娜王妃設計及造鞋,直至戴妃1997年離世為止。

1996年 與合作夥伴 Tom Yeardye創立 Jimmy Choo品牌。

2000年 獲授馬來西亞彭亨州蘇丹封賜拿督勳銜。

2001年 出售 Jimmy Choo品牌全部股份,繼續以 Jimmy Choo Couture專營高級訂造鞋。

2002年 獲英女皇頒授 OBE勳銜。

2009年 獲馬來西亞旅遊部委任為馬來西亞旅遊大使。

周仰傑教授為本會即席揮毫,繪畫高跟鞋設計圖樣。

Professor Jimmy Choo sketches a high heel shoe, demonstrating his art for the Chamber.

9CGCC VISION︱JUL 2011

攀過事業的最高峰,近年周仰傑教授全情投入教育工

作,四處講學,並邀請學生到其工作室實習,親身教

授造鞋工藝,寄望後起之秀能夠青出於藍。

曾經受益於英國的設計藝術教育,周仰傑教授致力推而

廣之,多年來擔任英國文化協會的教育大使,並於母

校倫敦藝術大學任教,又出任位於廣州的天麟海外

藝術創意啟發中心的名譽校長,為中國學生搭建英國留學

的橋樑。“我希望利用我的知識和經驗,讓學生進一步了解

西方創意藝術、開拓視野,為他們將來投身創意設計行列

奠定基礎。”

周仰傑教授對教育的熱誠,還體現於“言教不如身教”的

教學方式,把他在倫敦的 Jimmy Choo Couture作為教室,讓在當地求學的中國學生在課餘時間跟他實習。“學校

可以提供很好的理論課,但始終欠缺實戰經驗,發展

便不全面。學生來到我的工作室,跟着我邊學邊造,

經過磨練才能成為大器。”

經過相當訓練之後,周仰傑教授安排學生往馬來西

亞的小型鞋廠實習,學生的機票、住宿費用更由他

包辦。“小型鞋廠的創意設計比較貧乏,正好給予學

生發揮的空間,也讓他們真正參與製鞋的流程,與

當地技術工人合作協調,這種經驗有助他們日後發

展。”

最近周仰傑教授萌生在馬來西亞籌建鞋履設計學院

的念頭,亦獲得各界支持,主動提出合作或投資。

周仰傑教授的心願,就是將畢生所學的知識和技術

傾囊相授,為有志於創意設計的年青人開啟一條康

莊大道。

由設計師到教育家

影響自己的心情,心煩意亂又如何構想

出完美的設計來呢!”

再下一城:建立品牌

1996年,周仰傑教授遇上一個令他事

業再上層樓的機會:他與合作夥伴 Tom

Yeardye共同創立以 Jimmy Choo為名

的品牌,大量生產 Jimmy Choo – ready

to wear女裝鞋系列,以周仰傑教授優

雅、具品味的設計風格席捲全球。

然而,周仰傑教授早在創立品牌之時已

立下心志,決定在五年後出售所有股份

抽身而退,開展人生新的階段。“我需

要更多時間去做我想做的事,如陪伴家

人、培育後進及回饋社會,當然還有

我最享受的手工製鞋的工作。”今天周

仰傑教授仍然在其主理的 Jimmy Choo

Couture坐鎮,用心為每位客人打造獨

一無二的鞋子。

珍視中國當前大好形勢

數十年前,中國人要在西方市場闖出名

堂談何容易,周仰傑教授可說是箇中典

範,他深信“只要有真材實料,凡事忍

耐、有毅力,總有出頭天”。當然,過

去和今天中國的國力已不可同日而語,

中國在不同領域的成就令世人刮目相

看,越來越多中國人在世界舞台嶄露頭

角。

周仰傑教授認為,大家應好好把握當前

機遇,尤其注重培育下一代的知識和品

德,令國家的富強昌盛得以延續下去。

“中國在世界的影響力日廣,連帶各國

人民也對中國的藝術文化深感興趣,學

習漢語、武術、戲曲的比比皆是,整個

氣氛環境都是有利中國人走向世界。以

設計行業來說,雖然不少人批評中國抄

襲成風,但撇開這個不說,不能否認中

國在手工技術方面不斷進步,何不藉此

優勢,走好創意設計這條路,這才是持

久發展之策。我接觸不少有志從事設計

的中國學生,他們創意澎湃,我相信未

來中國的設計力量強大,不要說打入國

際市場,即使留在中國本土市場也大有

作為。”

身體力行回饋社會

周仰傑教授成名於英國,但他始終以身

為中國人為榮,同時心繫出生之地馬來

西亞。自從退下 Jimmy Choo這個品牌的火線後,他全情投入教育工作,四處

講學,毫不吝嗇將技術傳授新一代,特

別是中國的年青學子,並擔任馬來西

亞、英國的宣傳大使,身體力行回饋社

會。“十年前賣掉 Jimmy Choo的股份後,得到的財富足以讓我擁有優哉悠哉

的生活,但我選擇繼續在新的崗位上發

光發熱,憑藉個人的名聲和知識多作貢

獻。我現在所做的一切是為了建設更美

好的將來,但不獨是我的將來,而是大

家的將來。”

10 商 薈 ︱ 2 0 1 1 年 7 月

環 球 視 野 Global Vision

The Legendary Master of Shoe Design -Professor Jimmy Choo

Professor Jimmy Choo is as proud of his heritage as he is of his amazing global success. The late Princess Diana’s favorite shoemaker, born in Malaysia and college-educated in Britain, he believes that a new wave of Chinese designers is about to burst upon the international stage. He has rejected a life of ease and luxury to help bring this about, devoting himself to fostering talented youngsters in the hope that they will follow in his footsteps - as he followed in those of his father, an emigrant from Guangdong.

D ressed in a smart black pin-striped suit with a white handkerchief peeping stylishly above its breast

pocket, Professor Choo looks every inch the dapper English gentleman. He speaks quietly and with a natural modesty that matches both his demeanor - and the subtle artistry of his world-famous footwear.

Looking back over his meteoric career, Choo recalls that even as a child he was obsessed with shoemaking - a craft that he observed at close quarters in his father’s workshop. “My

dad was of Hakka origin, from the county of Meixian in Guangdong, China, who left his hometown when he was still only a teenager to make a living overseas,” explains Choo. “He went to Malaysia, where he learned how to make shoes from a master craftsman. After an arduous apprenticeship, he started up his own business.”

Dad was His Biggest Influence“Without my dad passing on to me all that he knew, I would not be where I am today,” says Choo, who unsurprisingly considers

his father to have been the biggest single influence in his life. The consummate skills of Mr Choo Senior were to seed young Jimmy’s studies in England - and, ultimately, his glamorous career and his global fame in the world of haute couture.

“In my dad’s era, it was common to want your children to grow up with more than one string to their bow,” recalls Choo. “So my after-school activity was to learn how to make shoes in my dad’s workshop in Penang. Far

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from resenting this, I found that I really loved the craft and I enjoyed every minute of my time there. Patience and perseverance are important in this business and I worked hard at acquiring these qualities, which I believe have formed the foundation of my success.” By the time Jimmy was 11, he had made his first footwear: a pair of slippers for his mother.

Training at Top UK CollegeEmulat ing h is father’s decis ion to go abroad to earn his living, Choo chose to study in the UK in the early 1980s, taking a course in shoe design at what was then called Cordwainers College in London - a venerable establishment that had long been recognized as a leader in its field (and which is now incorporated into the London College of Fashion). Here his creative talent, allied with his early practical experiences under the tutelage of his father, was honed and polished - and he graduated with a good degree. The future seemed clear: to stay in England and establish his very own workshop for hand-made shoes.

When you have a clear goal, you need to devote yourself whole-heartedly to making it happen. You must be patient and responsible and equip yourse l f w i th the necessary knowledge a n d t e c h n i q u e s . Y o u w i l l b e c o m e s u c c e s s f u l w h e n the right opportunity comes along.

Career Launched by Coverage in VogueThe UK years were the turning-point for Choo, but the road to fame and fortune was not without its bumps along the way. Choo suffered his share of frustrations and depressions. The shoemaker believes that with perseverance, the doors to the next opportunity will always open somewhere, some day. “When I started my business, I frequently received orders for runway shoes from fashion designers,” he remembers. “I gladly accepted them, even when they were unpaid. I figured that they would bring good exposure for my work.”

Eventually, Jimmy Choo Couture shoes caught the eye of Vogue editor Katie Feller, who devoted eight pages of the fashion “Bible” to them. “Vogue is a leading authority in the global fashion industry and many designers can only dream of being given a page of coverage in the publication - even just half a page,” says Choo. “So I was awestruck when the story appeared and I saw it with my own eyes. I soon found myself swamped with media requests from TV channels, newspapers, magazines … and the article also brought me more opportunities to work with some fine fashion designers.”

Princess Diana Sets Seal of Approval on Choo’s ShoesPerhaps the ultimate seal of approval placed on Choo’s shoes was when they found favor with the late Princess Diana - even today, he is widely recognized as “Diana’s shoemaker”. He recalls fondly: “I made shoes for the Princess for a total of seven years, until she had her tragic accident.” Throughout that time, the charismatic and always stylish Diana wore Choo’s distinctive creations to banquets, formal occasions and charitable events around the globe, giving them a profile that no amount of money could buy.

Choo was introduced to Princess Diana by a British fashion-designer friend - and he vividly remembers what happened after that: “I had presented her with a pair of red high-heels that I subsequently saw her wearing in various newspaper photographs. A few weeks later, I was invited to visit Kensington Palace to meet her in person. An array of clothing was laid out in front of me - the Princess was about to embark on a trip and

wanted me to design a series of shoes to match her wardrobe. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me.” From that moment on, Choo and Princess Di became firm friends.

He cherishes his memories of her kindness and her sincerity. But it was Diana’s open mind that made the biggest impression on him. “I had a lot of freedom in the design department as Princess Diana was never demanding,” he says. “She rarely rejected my designs. There were countless famous brands she could have patronized and I sometimes wondered, what was it about my shoes that so appealed to her? I know that my craftsmanship is pretty good, but I believe that above all she was doing her best to encourage home-bred designers through the influence she had on the world of fashion - and I was lucky enough to be one of them.”

Gradually, the reputation of the company that he set up in 1996 (and sold 50 percent of his shares in five years later to found Jimmy Choo Couture), spread throughout the world. His portfolio of clients is studded with ce lebr i t ies: the “Queen of Pop” Madonna wore a pair of his high-heels when she married film director Guy Ritchie in a Scottish castle; Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, also wore Jimmy Choo’s to the recent wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton. Whether it is at a royal occasion or on the red carpet of the Oscars ceremony, the feet of many of the famous will be found clad in footwear created by Choo.

Ideas No Good without Technique, He BelievesFrom beavering away in a discreet London workshop to becoming a Hall of Fame fashion icon, it took more than simply being in the right place at the right time and knowing the right people for Choo to achieve his staggering success. He believes that technique is the basis of all great design. Without the necessary skills, no design could survive beyond its blueprint.

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“A shoe designer must know the fundamental principles and processes of shoemaking in order to create comfortable as well as pretty shoes,” he maintains. “A design can be unconstrained, but how do you know whether it is feasible? Many designers are not aware of this; they have never studied the skills behind the concepts. So their most amazing drawings never leave the graph paper. But by understanding the techniques and mastering the skills, you can create your own samples when you have completed your designs. Even when you outsource the shoemaking itself to a factory, you can still provide expert technical advice.”

Feeling Uncreative? Just Get on with It!Choo’s designs are as varied as they are innovative: glamorous, elegant, avant-garde, retro … day by day and year by year, inspiration never seems to failed him. His passion for life constantly nourishes his creativity. “I am inspired by what comes through my eyes, my ears and my fingers,” he says. “In this conference room that I just walked into, for example, there is a carved-stone inscription of Chinese calligraphy

on the wall. I could not help going over to inspect it, in the hope that someday, somehow, it might inspire me. I have worked with many fashion designers since I started out. They all have their different styles - and they spark off one another. A lot of chemistry goes on between us.”

With a wry smile, Choo admits that, as an ordinary human being, it is impossible not to have days when you just don’t feel creative. At such moments, he says, it is important to stay positive. “There were times when I started a drawing that I ended up being dissatisfied with. I would simply order myself to do it again! Everyone who pursues design as a career wil l have anecdotes about achieving the opposite of what was intended. This is totally normal. You mustn’t let it drag you down. If you’re feeling anxious, how can you ever come up with a great design?”

Selling up and Standing BackWhen he founded his first label, to mass-produce women’s shoes, with business partner Tom Yeardye in 1996, Choo already had it in mind to sell up and stand back a few years down the road and turn a new chapter

in his life. “I needed more time to do what I have always wanted to do,” he explains. “I wanted to spend more time with my family; I wanted to groom up-and-coming talent; I wanted to give back something to society. Most of all, though, I wanted to continue making shoes by hand, which I have always enjoyed doing.” Choo still makes shoes for his Jimmy Choo Couture label, committing himself unequivocally to his clients in pursuit of a unique product.

Enormous Potential of Chinese DesignersChoo is very conscious of his role as a model for other Chinese designers. Until only a few decades ago, it was very rare for a Chinese to find fame in the West - especially in such a specialist field as fashion. But Choo believes that “with genuine talent, patience and perseverance, one can always expect the big break to come along.” Today, more and more Chinese are making their mark on the international stage and, with the unprecedented rise in popularity of fashionable clothing in China, inroads are being made into the world of haute couture, too.

13CGCC VISION︱JUL 2011

“As China rises as an economic power, people from around the world are becoming more and more interested in Chinese art and culture,” says Choo. “People in many countries are learning the Chinese language, martial arts and Chinese operas. The macro-climate is ready for Chinese creators to go international. For the design industry, while China has been criticized in the past as a country that copies, it is undeniable that Chinese craftsmanship has seen constant improvement. The strategy going forward should be one that can sustain this, to ride on our advantages and to tread the path of creative design. I have met a lot of Chinese students who aspire to become designers, and they are all full of creativity. I believe there will be an extremely strong flow of design brainpower coming out of China. Even if they don’t end up going international, the domestic market alone has a lot to offer.”

Putting Something back into SocietyAlthough Choo shot to fame in the UK, he is proud of his Chinese ancestry, and the country of his birth, Malaysia, is always close to his heart. Ever since he stepped back from the original Jimmy Choo label, he has

devoted an increasing amount of his time to education, giving lectures wherever he goes and selflessly passing on his skills to the new generation, especially young students from China. He also undertakes the role of an ambassador for both Malaysia and the UK as part of his philosophy of giving back to society. “All the Jimmy Choo shares I sold ten years ago gave me enough wealth to sit

back and enjoy a life of ease and comfort,” he admits. “Yet I have chosen to enlighten others in my new role. I want to use my reputation and accumulated knowledge to contribute more. What I am doing now is building a better tomorrow, a future that does not only belong to me, but to society as a whole.”

Biography of Professor Jimmy Choo

1961 Born in Penang, Malaysia.

1983 Graduated from Cordwainers Technical College in London (now London College of Fashion) in shoe design.

1986 Founded a workshop for hand-crafted shoes in East London.

1988 Featured in fashion magazine Vogue for the first time.

1990 Began to design and make shoes for Princess Diana and continued until she died in 1997.

1996 Founded the Jimmy Choo brand with partner Tom Yeardye.

2000 Received the honorary title Dato from the Sultan of Pahang in Malaysia.

2001 Sold shares in the Jimmy Choo brand and continued to manufacture high-fashion shoes under the label Jimmy Choo Couture.

2002 Received an OBE from the Queen of England.

2009 Appointed as a Tourism Ambassador for Malaysia by the Malaysian Tourism Promotion Board.

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環 球 視 野 Global Vision

H aving conquered the peaks of his career, Professor Jimmy Choo has dedicated himself to education. He not only tours

the world giving lectures, but also invites students to intern at his workshop, where he personally teaches the art of shoemaking. It is his ambition that these up-and-coming designers will exceed what he himself has achieved.

As a beneficiary of the British art-and-design education system, Choo is committed to promoting it. He is an Education Ambassador for the British Council, while teaching at the University of the Arts, London, where he has a fellowship and of which his old alma mater forms a part. He is also the Honorary President of the International Creative Art & Design Academy in Guangzhou - a role that enables him to help Chinese students build a bridge to studying in the UK. “I want to share my know-how and experience with students and

open their eyes to creative art in the West,” he says. “This will lay down a solid foundation for their creative-design careers.”

Choo’s passion for education is matched by his belief that practice is more important than theory. His Jimmy Choo Couture workshop in London is now a practical classroom, allowing Chinese students to join him in sessions of real work after school. “Although perfect for delivering theoretical knowledge, schools rarely equip students with real-world experience,” he claims. “Students who come to my workshop receive on-the-job training and, hopefully, they can be forged into masters in their own right.”

After receiving some training, Choo’s students are attached to small shoe factories in Malaysia for internship. Their air tickets and lodging are all sponsored by Choo. “In small factories, innovative design is a rarity, so they are the perfect setting for students to bring their creativity into play,” he believes. “Students can also become fully involved in production as they work with local technicians. Such experience should be extremely useful for their future development.”

Choo’s latest brainwave is to set up a shoe-design college in Malaysia and the idea has been enthusiastically received in the country, with potential partners already approaching him for collaboration or investment. Now Choo’s dearest wish is to pass on all his knowledge and skills to talented youngsters aspiring to become creative designers - thus paving their own roads to success.

Educating Others is Now Choo’s Passion

15CGCC VISION︱JUL 2011