Jimmy Choo Ltd
Encyclopedia
Jimmy Choo is a British
high fashion house specializing in luxury shoe
s, designer
bags, and accessories. The company, J. Choo Limited, was founded in 1996 by couture shoe designer Jimmy Choo
OBE
and Vogue
accessories editor Tamara Mellon
OBE. In April 2001 Equinox Luxury Holdings Ltd. bought out Jimmy Choo's 50% ownership of the ready to wear business. The company was bought by current owners Labelux in 2011.
J. Choo Limited was founded by Malaysian-born couture shoe designer Jimmy Choo OBE and Vogue
accessories editor Tamara Mellon OBE in 1996, and registered as such on the United Kingdom register of companies. The company began by making shoes and opened shops in several locations over the following five years, marketing their products as the "Jimmy Choo London" line.
Choo sold his 50% share in the company to Equinox Luxury Holdings Ltd. in 2001. Lion Capital acquired a majority shareholding in November 2004, and the company was sold in 2007 to TowerBrook Capital Partners for £225 million. It was later sold to Labelux, the current owners, for £525.5 million in 2011 with J. Choo Limited still the company name throughout.
J. Choo Limited is under the purview of Tamara Mellon, founder and chief creative officer, and Sandra Choi, previously an apprentice under Choo and now the creative director of the company. Choi is the niece of Choo's wife Rebecca. The company produces the Jimmy Choo London line (also known as Jimmy Choo ready-to-wear or Jimmy Choo) and the ready-to-wear line has been expanded to include accessories, such as handbags. The company is also responsible for the "Jimmy Choo" website.
The Jimmy Choo brand has 115 stores worldwide in 32 countries with its international flagship store in Bond Street
, London
. In the United States Jimmy Choo boutiques are found in: New York City
, Bellevue, Washington
, Chevy Chase, Maryland
, Washington D.C., Boston
, Chicago
, Beverly Hills
, Canoga Park, Los Angeles
, Costa Mesa
, Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Orlando
, Palm Beach, Florida
, San Diego, and Phoenix, Arizona
. In the United States, Jimmy Choo currently only has 40 shops, but Tamara Mellon
, co-founder of Jimmy Choo, revealed on September 29 that she hopes to open up 50 new stores in China, one of the world's fastest-growing markets for luxury products. Jimmy Choo is working to open its 3rd shop in China by the end of 2011.
In 2010 Jimmy Choo was voted Britain's most desirable brand by OK Magazine, followed by Jack Wills
and Louis Vuitton
.
line, which is produced under license from J. Choo Ltd., available by appointment only at Connaught Street in London.
and Michelle Obama
.
in 2006, for selling a copy of the Jimmy Choo Cosmo silk satin evening bag; The case was settled for an undisclosed sum, while other cases include the Oasis and Warehouse chains. Since these events the Jimmy Choo brand has adopted the trend for tie-ups, according to a report by Susie Mesure in The Independent, "Jimmy Choo is famously litigious, suing high street chains including Oasis, Warehouse ..." while Lauretta Roberts, development director of WGSN, replied that "High street designers pore over catwalk collections for ideas. This [red carpet labels seeking tie-ups with high street stores] enables brands to take some control of that process and profit from it,".
In December 2008 the company threatened to sue a New Zealand website, Kookychoo.com, for trademark infringement. Kookychoo is a company which sells products unrelated to shoes; items such as toys, jewellery and bean bags. Kookychoo's owner stated, "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." J. Choo Limited did not comment.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
high fashion house specializing in luxury shoe
Shoe
A shoe is an item of footwear intended to protect and comfort the human foot while doing various activities. Shoes are also used as an item of decoration. The design of shoes has varied enormously through time and from culture to culture, with appearance originally being tied to function...
s, designer
Designer
A designer is a person who designs. More formally, a designer is an agent that "specifies the structural properties of a design object". In practice, anyone who creates tangible or intangible objects, such as consumer products, processes, laws, games and graphics, is referred to as a...
bags, and accessories. The company, J. Choo Limited, was founded in 1996 by couture shoe designer Jimmy Choo
Jimmy Choo
Dato' Jimmy Choo, OBE, born Choo Yeang Keat, is a Malaysian fashion designer based in London, United Kingdom. He is best known for founding Jimmy Choo Ltd that became known for its handmade women's shoes....
OBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
and Vogue
Vogue (magazine)
Vogue is a fashion and lifestyle magazine that is published monthly in 18 national and one regional edition by Condé Nast.-History:In 1892 Arthur Turnure founded Vogue as a weekly publication in the United States. When he died in 1909, Condé Montrose Nast picked up the magazine and slowly began...
accessories editor Tamara Mellon
Tamara Mellon
Tamara Mellon, OBE is the Chief Creative Office and co-founder of Jimmy Choo, a luxury brand that offers designer shoes, handbags and a range of accessories .-Early life:...
OBE. In April 2001 Equinox Luxury Holdings Ltd. bought out Jimmy Choo's 50% ownership of the ready to wear business. The company was bought by current owners Labelux in 2011.
History
Vogue (magazine)
Vogue is a fashion and lifestyle magazine that is published monthly in 18 national and one regional edition by Condé Nast.-History:In 1892 Arthur Turnure founded Vogue as a weekly publication in the United States. When he died in 1909, Condé Montrose Nast picked up the magazine and slowly began...
accessories editor Tamara Mellon OBE in 1996, and registered as such on the United Kingdom register of companies. The company began by making shoes and opened shops in several locations over the following five years, marketing their products as the "Jimmy Choo London" line.
Choo sold his 50% share in the company to Equinox Luxury Holdings Ltd. in 2001. Lion Capital acquired a majority shareholding in November 2004, and the company was sold in 2007 to TowerBrook Capital Partners for £225 million. It was later sold to Labelux, the current owners, for £525.5 million in 2011 with J. Choo Limited still the company name throughout.
J. Choo Limited is under the purview of Tamara Mellon, founder and chief creative officer, and Sandra Choi, previously an apprentice under Choo and now the creative director of the company. Choi is the niece of Choo's wife Rebecca. The company produces the Jimmy Choo London line (also known as Jimmy Choo ready-to-wear or Jimmy Choo) and the ready-to-wear line has been expanded to include accessories, such as handbags. The company is also responsible for the "Jimmy Choo" website.
The Jimmy Choo brand has 115 stores worldwide in 32 countries with its international flagship store in Bond Street
Bond Street
Bond Street is a major shopping street in the West End of London that runs north-south through Mayfair between Oxford Street and Piccadilly. It has been a fashionable shopping street since the 18th century and is currently the home of many high price fashion shops...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. In the United States Jimmy Choo boutiques are found in: New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, Bellevue, Washington
Bellevue, Washington
Bellevue is a city in the Eastside region of King County, Washington, United States, across Lake Washington from Seattle. Long known as a suburb or satellite city of Seattle, it is now categorized as an edge city or a boomburb. The population was 122,363 at the 2010 census.Downtown Bellevue is...
, Chevy Chase, Maryland
Chevy Chase, Maryland
Chevy Chase is the name of both a town and an unincorporated census-designated place in Montgomery County, Maryland. In addition, a number of villages in the same area of Montgomery County include "Chevy Chase" in their names...
, Washington D.C., Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Beverly Hills
Beverly Hills, California
Beverly Hills is an affluent city located in Los Angeles County, California, United States. With a population of 34,109 at the 2010 census, up from 33,784 as of the 2000 census, it is home to numerous Hollywood celebrities. Beverly Hills and the neighboring city of West Hollywood are together...
, Canoga Park, Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, Costa Mesa
Costa Mesa, California
Costa Mesa is a city in Orange County, California. The population was 109,960 at the 2010 census. Since its incorporation in 1953, the city has grown from a semi-rural farming community of 16,840 to a primarily suburban and "edge" city with an economy based on retail, commerce, and light...
, Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Orlando
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
, Palm Beach, Florida
Palm Beach, Florida
The Town of Palm Beach is an incorporated town in Palm Beach County, Florida, United States. The Intracoastal Waterway separates it from the neighboring cities of West Palm Beach and Lake Worth...
, San Diego, and Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
. In the United States, Jimmy Choo currently only has 40 shops, but Tamara Mellon
Tamara Mellon
Tamara Mellon, OBE is the Chief Creative Office and co-founder of Jimmy Choo, a luxury brand that offers designer shoes, handbags and a range of accessories .-Early life:...
, co-founder of Jimmy Choo, revealed on September 29 that she hopes to open up 50 new stores in China, one of the world's fastest-growing markets for luxury products. Jimmy Choo is working to open its 3rd shop in China by the end of 2011.
In 2010 Jimmy Choo was voted Britain's most desirable brand by OK Magazine, followed by Jack Wills
Jack Wills
__NOEDITSECTION__Jack Wills is a mid-range British clothing brand aimed at university students. The fashion label uses the brand and registered trademark "Jack Wills – University Outfitters" to reflect the heritage and inspiration behind the brand....
and Louis Vuitton
Louis Vuitton
Louis Vuitton Malletier – commonly referred to as Louis Vuitton , or shortened to LV – is a French fashion house founded in 1854 by Louis Vuitton. The label is well known for its LV monogram, which is featured on most products, ranging from luxury trunks and leather goods to ready-to-wear, shoes,...
.
Jimmy Choo produces under license
Jimmy Choo began Jimmy Choo Couture Limited in late 2006 to continue his work on the exclusive Jimmy Choo CoutureHaute couture
Haute couture refers to the creation of exclusive custom-fitted clothing. Haute couture is made to order for a specific customer, and it is usually made from high-quality, expensive fabric and sewn with extreme attention to detail and finished by the most experienced and capable seamstresses,...
line, which is produced under license from J. Choo Ltd., available by appointment only at Connaught Street in London.
Awards
The brand has won awards for its products, including the British Fashion Council Awards Designer Brand category in 2008, the Accessories Council Brand of the Year 2008, the Footwear News Brand of the Year Award, and the 2009 Nordstrom Partners In Excellence award.Products and intellectual property
J. Choo Ltd. has over 400 design patents to its name. Jimmy Choo is a global "luxury accessory brand", designing and creating: women's shoes, handbags, small leather goods, scarves, sunglasses, belts, eyewear, perfume and men's shoes. The companies products are regularly seen being worn by people such as HRH Duchess of Cambridge, Zara PhillipsZara Phillips
Zara Anne Elizabeth Phillips, MBE is the second child and only daughter of Princess Anne and her first husband Captain Mark Phillips and is 13th in the line of succession to the throne...
and Michelle Obama
Michelle Obama
Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama is the wife of the 44th and incumbent President of the United States, Barack Obama, and is the first African-American First Lady of the United States...
.
Enforcement
The company has had several prominent cases for copyright and trademark infringement, as well as being the target of "knock-off" counterfeit imports in the UK, the US and Australia. In one case the company took action against Marks & SpencerMarks & Spencer
Marks and Spencer plc is a British retailer headquartered in the City of Westminster, London, with over 700 stores in the United Kingdom and over 300 stores spread across more than 40 countries. It specialises in the selling of clothing and luxury food products...
in 2006, for selling a copy of the Jimmy Choo Cosmo silk satin evening bag; The case was settled for an undisclosed sum, while other cases include the Oasis and Warehouse chains. Since these events the Jimmy Choo brand has adopted the trend for tie-ups, according to a report by Susie Mesure in The Independent, "Jimmy Choo is famously litigious, suing high street chains including Oasis, Warehouse ..." while Lauretta Roberts, development director of WGSN, replied that "High street designers pore over catwalk collections for ideas. This [red carpet labels seeking tie-ups with high street stores] enables brands to take some control of that process and profit from it,".
In December 2008 the company threatened to sue a New Zealand website, Kookychoo.com, for trademark infringement. Kookychoo is a company which sells products unrelated to shoes; items such as toys, jewellery and bean bags. Kookychoo's owner stated, "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." J. Choo Limited did not comment.
Cultural references
- Jimmy Choo footwear is worn by a villainVillainA villain is an "evil" character in a story, whether a historical narrative or, especially, a work of fiction. The villain usually is the antagonist, the character who tends to have a negative effect on other characters...
, and cited as a clue to the nature of of her character, in The Salt-Stained Book, a children's novel by Julia JonesJulia Jones (writer)-External links:** article on Arthur Ransome Wiki website...