Jimmy Choo recalls his relationship with Princess Diana and reveals why no other royal can compare

Jimmy Choo has revealed why no other royal family can ever measure up to Princess Diana.

The esteemed shoemaker, 75, based in London, had a long working relationship with the late princess, which was revealed in 1997 when Diana visited the Royal Albert Hall to view Swan Lake in a pair of Jimmy Choo satin blue sandals.

It was the start of a fruitful relationship, and Diana wore the Malaysian-born designer's shoes several times and even called him when she needed a wardrobe update.

But it was their fond farewell that Choo remembers most, with Diana offering to carry his bags for him after the fitting at Kensington Palace.

“She walked me back to the parking lot and tried to carry my suitcase for me,” he recalls. “I was like…”Princess! What are you doing in the parking lot?”

Princess Diana offered to carry Jimmy Choo bags to his car after a visit to Kensington Palace, the famous shoe designer has revealed. Diana is pictured above arriving at Christie's in New York for a pre-auction party featuring some of Choo's designs

Esteemed fashion designer and businessman Jimmy Choo (pictured) recalled fond memories with the 'very friendly' Princess Diana

'The [rest] of the royal family…would they do that? I do not think so. They would say 'bye'. That is it! Diana was very nice,” he said The independent.

The fashion designer revealed that he would arrive at Kensington Palace carrying a large suitcase full of designs, and together the pair would sit on the floor and try out designs.

As the relationship blossomed, the formalities decreased and Diana eventually called Choo when she wanted to try some new styles.

He remembered how she always asked about his family and said she “took care of everyone.”

In 2001, Choo parted ways with his brand and sold his 50 percent stake in the company for £10 million.

But it led the luxury footwear pioneer to his next creative venture: launching an £18,000-a-year fashion academy in London.

In 2021 he opened the doors of the JCA | London Fashion Academy in Mayfair, which is set to become the UK's newest university dedicated solely to fashion.

Students study fashion design and entrepreneurship at three levels: foundation degree, undergraduate and postgraduate, with Jimmy acting as a practical guide to the aspiring designers.

Speak with The times, he explained: 'London is still my home, so I'll be in and out. I want to see what they do. I want to talk to them to make sure they come to the academy to study, not because they want to be famous.'

Diana first wore a pair of Jimmy's designs in 1997 at the Royal Albert Hall for an English National Ballet performance of Swan Lake. The blue slingback heel shoes (pictured) matched Diana's dress perfectly

The fashion designer revealed that the idea to launch a school came from his children, saying he had been working on the plans for several years.

The idea of the project kept the 75-year-old busy during the Covid-19 crisis, as he was confined to his second home in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and his wife and family live in London.

The fashion designer revealed that the idea to launch a school came from his children, saying he had been working on the plans for several years.

He said he had noticed that many designers “don't know business,” and said, “My vision for the academy is to teach them my knowledge of design, but also to have a business mind .'

He said he had learned his business skills “slowly” over “years and years”, adding: “The Chinese always say, 'When you drink water, think about where the water comes from.'

Jimmy Choo's brand is loved by celebrities and royals alike, with the Duchess of Sussex and Duchess of Cambridge regularly stepping into the designer's shoes

THE JIMMY CHOO JOURNEY

Jimmy Choo Ltd was founded in 1996 by Tamara Mellon, then accessories editor of British Vogue, and Malaysian couture shoemaker Jimmy Choo, who ran a successful but small business in the East End of London.

Mellon obtained a £150,000 loan from her father, businessman Tom Yeardye, to go into business with Choo, with the first products sold under the Jimmy Choo London line.

The brand was immortalized in the TV show Sex and the City, when Sarah Jessica Parker's character Carrie revealed it was her favorite store.

In April 2001, Mr Choo sold his share of the ready-made clothing business to Equinox Luxury Holdings Ltd. He now runs a London studio called Jimmy Choo's Shoes, and is setting up a shoe institute in Malaysia. .

Lion Capital acquired a majority stake in Jimmy Choo Ltd in November 2004.

The company was sold to TowerBrook Capital Partners in 2007 for £225 million, with Mellon retaining some shares.

In 2010, Mellon was awarded the OBE for her services to business.

It was later sold in 2011 for £525.5 million to Labelux, the current owners, with J.Choo Limited retaining the company name.

Mellon agreed to stay on in a creative consulting role, but cut all ties in 2011.

The Academy's courses combine the latest insights in contemporary design with the entrepreneurial skills needed to set up and manage successful fashion brands of the future.

Jimmy plans to train students to become emerging professional designers through a guided approach.

Students will receive a level of access to internationally recognized design leaders unmatched by traditional colleges and universities.

The JCA | London Fashion Academy has created a syllabus inspired by Professor Jimmy Choo's experiences building his own luxury superbrand and the versatile skills that fashion designers increasingly need in today's ultra-competitive, multi-channel global landscape.