Jimmy Choo strolls into Leicester

Jimmy Choo talks about making women happy and men in heels

On 12 November 2009 world famous shoe designer Jimmy Choo visited De Montfort University to give a unique master class to a group of design students.

Choo is an Honorary Doctor of Arts at the Leicester university, which is home to the UK's only specialist footwear honours degree.

The designer is a celebrity favourite and has designed for the likes of Princess Diana and Michelle Obama.

He said it was a "privilege" to share ideas with the Leicester students.

"It's very important for me to mix with the young people, talk to them, exchange ideas. If you think you're good, there's always someone better than you.

"My father always said to me, 'One mountain is higher than another'. So you must always be aware you are not best, there is someone better than you."

A background in shoes

Choo was born in Malaysia and was introduced to his career very early in life, working as a youth for his shoe designer father.

Jimmy Choo looked at the work of De Montfort University students

In the 1980s he came to England to study shoe design further, and it is here his focus on the importance of education developed.

Since then Choo's career has blossomed and his name is now synonymous with specially crafted shoes, worn by the rich and famous.

"I remember that the late Princess Diana said to me one day when I first met her, 'I want two inches only, no more than that'.

"And after that slowly, slowly she says, 'I want four inches'. I said, 'What do you want with four inches? It's a bit high for you', and she said to me, 'I want to be taller than all the men'."

Despite being worshipped by women across the globe, Choo insists he is still the same person who came from a humble background; he is as happy to drive a Mini, as a Rolls Royce.

An inspiration to future designers

Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Design, Gerard Moran believes Choo's visit to De Montfort University is hugely beneficial to the 80 students who attended the workshop.

Shoes designed by De Montfort University graduate Isabel Proctor

"These are ambitious students, many of them will be going out into the footwear industry very soon and it's terrifically important for them to see somebody who's made such a success of their career in footwear and couture.

"And I really couldn't think of a better person for them to be a role model."

During the event, one lucky student Nikki Lin was selected to spend a day with Choo at his London workshop, due to the strength of her own designs; "I feel very excited and I'm so surprised."

Another student, Heidi Henson really enjoyed the opportunity to see a man whose work is so influential in the design world.

"His shoes are so elegant. I think they're such an inspiration to us all. I would love to own a pair; I think it might be quite a while until I can afford some though."