Jimmy’s Shoes: The Story of Jimmy Choo, Shoemaker to a Princess

Jimmy’s Shoes is the story of shoemaker Jimmy Choo. Born on the island of Penang, the fourth largest island in Malaysia, Jimmy watched his father “cut, stitch, and shape” pieces of leather into “works of art”. At age 11, Jimmy made a pair of slippers for his mother, and, within a year, he was an apprentice in his father’s workshop. In his late teens, Jimmy moved to London, attending Cordwainers Technical College to train as a shoemaker. He worked very hard, training by day and practicing English at night. Eventually, Jimmy chose to focus on couture evening shoes, his designs “inspired by the vibrant flowers, brilliant birds, and graceful architecture of his homeland.” His one of a kind custom shoes, designed on demand, were highly regarded in the fashion world by designers and celebrities such as Princess Diana.

Desierto’s illustrations are very detailed, providing an important supplement to the story. Through the pictures, readers can follow Jimmy as a young boy, then an adult, studying, learning his trade, refining his skills. Jimmy’s talent, perseverance, and industriousness are clearly portrayed to great effect. Overall, there is a lot to take in on any given page, from a small spool of thread, to visuals of some of the beautiful shoes that Jimmy Choo designed. Patricia Tanumihardja has even included step by step instructions for how to make a pair of shoes.

Jimmy’s Shoes is an inspirational story, one in which obstacles/challenges can be overcome and dreams, as well as success, achieved.