Jimmy Choo
Jimmy Choo Ltd is a British company selling luxury shoes. The company was founded in 1996 by Vogue accessories editor Tamara Mellon and couture shoe designer Jimmy Choo. In April 2001, Equinox Luxury Holdings Ltd bought up Jimmy Choo's 50% ownership of the ready to wear business.
History
Jimmy Choo himself has concentrated his work on the exclusive Jimmy Choo Couture line produced under license from Jimmy Choo Ltd. This is available, by appointment only, at Connaught Street off Oxford Street in London. 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. Choi, who was an apprentice under Choo, is the Creative Director at the company. She is the niece of Choo's wife Rebecca. The ready-to-wear line has expanded to include accessories such as handbags.
The Jimmy Choo International flagship store is in Connaught Street in London.
In the United States Jimmy Choo boutiques are found in Atlanta, Beverly Hills, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Las Vegas, New York, Orlando, Palm Beach, Washington D.C., Phoenix, and more stores are scheduled to open.
In December 2008 the company threatened to sue a New Zealand website, Kookychoo.com, for trademark infringement. Kookychoo is a NZ company which sell products unrelated to shoes. They sell a variety of items such as toys, jewelery and bean bags. The fact that 'choo' is in the name is at the crux of the issue. Kookychoo's owner, Looie, states "It's terrifying to be honest because I'm feeling really bullied. There was never any malice intended, we just wanted to start a small New Zealand business so it's quite frightening" There has been a lot of comment on it such as 'Jimmy Choo and copyright stupidity' and 'Jimmy Choo..KookyChoo..'
In 2009 his nephew Simon Choo-Deren currently residing in Rotterdam and London, will take over his position as the company's assistant head designer as announced at a board meeting in 2006. (By: The Ultimate Designer HandbagsOutlet Studio)
