Fashion designer Jimmy Choo was born on November 15, 1954, in George Town, Malaysia. His family name is "Chou," but due to a misspelling on his birth certificate, he goes by "Chou." His father was a shoemaker, so he began making shoes from a young age, helping him out. He moved to the UK and enrolled at the London College of Fashion, part of the University of the Arts London. Since he had no money at the time, he made a living by working part-time in shoe factories and restaurants. His talent was recognized by Tamara Mellon, an editor at British Vogue, and in 1996, they co-founded the brand Jimmy Choo. Its elegant designs and high functionality made it a huge hit, and the brand became a favorite of celebrities, including Princess Diana. In 2002, he was awarded the Order of the British Empire in recognition of his achievements. However, cracks began to appear in his partnership with Tamara in the early 2000s, and Jimmy left the brand, and now the brand only produces haute couture shoes for a limited clientele.

In 2011, it was announced that Tamara would also be leaving the brand, and Jimmy's niece, Sandra Choi, and Simon Holloway were appointed creative directors. Sandra currently holds the position alone.