Home is a place where a family should live in harmony, where you all support and love each other. It doesn’t matter how big or luxurious a house is — it’s meaningless if there is no love among the people inside it. My designs may be exquisitely embellished, but if a home is functional and comfortable, then that’s good enough for me. I have always preferred simplicity, and I don’t insist on luxuries when it comes to interiors.
You own a portfolio of homes. Which one is your favourite?
My main home is an apartment in a high-rise in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, but I also have bases in Hong Kong and Mayfair, London. My Malaysian home is my favourite, as I love the year-round warm weather, the multiculturalism of the city and the diverse food on offer. It was wonderful to be here earlier this year with my family and celebrate Chinese new year. I can watch the sunrise from one side of the apartment and the sunset from another, and I love the main bedroom, which faces northeast. I find it extremely calming.
Do you incorporate feng shui principles into your homes?
Feng shui has been used for thousands of years in Chinese culture, but I am not obsessed by it. I like to hang up red decorations, which signify good luck, and when I have time I like to declutter, as I believe it improves the flow of good energy.
How has lockdown been for you?
It has been tough. I have always travelled extensively, so it took me a few months to adjust. I have spent most of the past year in Kuala Lumpur and have used the time to reflect and learn new things. I have done a lot of sketching, and stayed in close contact with friends and family members so we could help each other through it.
Does having a strict daily routine play a part in your success?
Definitely. I usually wake up at 7am and do some light yoga and stretching before breakfast. I mostly work from home, and in the evening, after dinner, I always watch the news and then a movie. A good wi-fi connection, an entertainment system and my fitness mat are absolute necessities. I love to do a bit of gardening as well. My favourite plant is an orchid cactus, the “Queen of the Night”, which only blossoms between dusk and dawn.
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What was your upbringing like?
I grew up in the state of Penang, in northwest Malaysia, and moved around many times. My most memorable childhood home, and the one in which we lived the longest, was an ordinary terraced house on Hutton Lane, in Penang’s bustling capital, George Town. The community was very close and our neighbours were like one big family. I made my first pair of shoes when I was 11 years old, and we ran the family shoemaking business from the house.
In 2001 you left the empire you co-founded with Tamara Mellon and now design for your own couture line. What inspires you?
Inspiration comes from everywhere and everything — my travels, things I spot when I am out walking or at home meditating. When I can, I take photos of interesting things that I see. Looking back at them helps me come up with ideas for designs.
What would you like to be your legacy?
I hope to share my experience, my knowledge of the fashion industry and skills in shoe design and shoemaking back through education. When knowledge is not passed on, it is lost. It doesn’t matter how advanced technology becomes, some skills can never be replicated by machines.
The newly launched JCA London Fashion Academy, founded by Jimmy Choo OBE, is now open for applications for its courses; jca.ac.uk
