If the Choo Fits

Jude Townend bows down to the lord of shoes, Professor Jimmy Choo, on his recent visit to Leeds

Jimmy Choo's like the David Beckham or Wayne Rooney of fashion - even dads and boyfriends know who he is. But, in reality, there's very little out there on him. He doesn't seem to do interviews very often at all. So what on earth was he doing in Leeds on an extremely rainy June evening?
Investigations reveal that a family friend may be connected to the business event taking place at the Leeds College of Art & Design, but that's by the by: Jimmy Choo was there, in the flesh and very uneccentric shoes (plain black lace-ups). His new collection, however, which was lovingly brought out of its suitcase by his beautiful 16-year-old daughter, Emily, is anything but plain. It's exquisite.
At 47, Professor Choo is still great fun - immediately jumping about, giving his card out willy-nilly to us local media types, waving his hands about talking at great length about everything he's passionate about, which isn't just shoes. It's the world and equality; it's working hard (for yourself not the boss); it's education, and above all British education.
"Past is very important," he says. "I studied in the UK. UK is the best for education. I came from Malaysia - it was a British colony so I got used to the British way of education. Without English education, I wouldn't be here today."
We're not allowed to ask him and about 'Sex and the City' or his ready-to-wear line (it's all about the Couture, baby), so the next logical (permissible) question is Princess Di, of course. Before talking about her, he first has to cool down: "I'm getting hot here, talking about Lady Diana! Because she was so sweet and great. When she first saw me she said, 'Jimmy, remember I don't want high heel shoe. Don't give me the four-inch shoe - give me the low heel shoe... because Charles isn't that tall!'
"I worked with her for seven years. Without her, there wouldn't be a top designer working for Paris. She supported all the British designers. Support your own country first and then support the outside. She supported me, and I remember the first time she called me. They said, 'Are you happy to see her?' I said, 'I'm over the moon. Diana. Are you joking or not?!' They said, 'Make sure you're on good manners to see her'. She was so simple and so smart. She was very kind - very relaxed - when she's talking to you."
But Choo isn't so keen on that other famous British woman: "If I see Cherie Blair, I drink more. I don't know how many pair of shoes Cherie Blair wanna buy!"
It's not like he has to worry about attracting clients. Since his career took off in 1988, when Vogue spotted his shoes on the catwalk and gave him eight whole pages - "eight is a very special number for the Chinese" - he has enj