Oscar-winner Michelle Yeoh elected to be an International Olympic Committee member
Oscar-winning actor Michelle Yeoh has been elected an International Olympic Committee member
1970-01-01 08:00
Shoe designer Jimmy Choo reveals the best advice he has ever received
His shoes have been worn by everyone from Diana, Princess of Wales, to Beyoncé, but legendary designer Jimmy Choo said his greatest achievement is setting up his own fashion school. Professor Choo – as he’s known to his students – set up the JCA London Fashion Academy in September 2021, calling it his “dream”. “I feel very proud – I know my dream has come true,” he told the PA news agency ahead of the masters students presenting their final collections. “My father said to me: whatever you learn, put it back to the industry. So we are lucky we have the JCA – I can put all my spirit and my knowledge, [and] give back to the students.” Before becoming a professor, Choo, 74, made his name with glamorous high-fashion footwear. After moving from his native Malaysia to study in the UK, he set up his eponymous brand in 1996 – designing heels for Diana, as well as being worn on red carpets all over the world and getting a nod in an episode of Sex And The City (when Sarah Jessica Parker’s fashion-obsessed character Carrie Bradshaw famously laments: “I lost my Choo!”) He’s delighted with the JCA Academy, but in a nod to his glittering career, Choo added: “I’ve had a lot of proud moments, from personally designing shoes for Princess Diana and other incredible VIPs [to] seeing emerging designers that I’ve mentored succeeding in their careers.” And while he’s an industry veteran, Choo said he’s still constantly learning. “The best piece of advice I received was to learn as much as possible,” he said, which is particularly important in the fashion industry where “everything changes”. He said: “The material, design, machinery, fabric – everything changes. So you have to adapt. Whatever you do, you must learn something.” Sustainability is one of the biggest areas of change in the fashion industry. “Now people [are] talking about sustainability – how to help the environment and that kind of thing,” Choo explained. “Everyone has to think about the future of the earth – if you spend so much and waste so many things, nature will be in trouble and so will we.” He looks to his students for inspiration, who “never fail to amaze me”. “Sophie Park was one of our footwear designers who made shoes out of plant-based materials such as cacti, pineapple and leaves. Olivia Black and Polly McKevitt both have collections made out of deadstock and materials that would have otherwise been discarded.” Choo enjoys working with young people because “they will listen to you”, and added: “They’re also very down to earth, willing to learn – that’s very important.” In turn, Choo emphasises to his students the importance of asking questions. “You have to ask why,” he said, giving the example of making a suit that doesn’t fit right and questioning why you can’t button the jacket up. “Because you’ve cut the pattern wrong, so your button cannot close. [With] only one inch, you made the whole thing difficult. The key to success, according to Choo, is collaboration – something which isn’t necessarily the norm in the highly competitive fashion industry. At the JCA, he said he never wants anyone to think they’re “better than you, [or] you’re better than me”, he said. “If you’re better than anyone we should share their ideas and the whole thing benefits. We cannot be selfish.” It’s something he suggests is missing from the wider fashion industry. “Of course it’s important to own your ideas, but creativity flourishes when you can bounce ideas off other people. I think it’s important to have a network of people that you can speak openly with in the interest of improving and sparking creativity.” Among all the good advice propelling Choo’s career to the stratosphere, what was the worst he ever got? “Maybe it’s when someone told me I should retire.” Read More The grown-up guide to getting ‘balletcore’ right From tradwife dresses to racist polo shirts: What happens when your clothes become political weapons? Birkenstock or bust: How a deeply uncool shoe became a modern must-have This is shoe designer Jimmy Choo’s proudest achievement See Madonna’s extravagant tour outfits – including an updated cone bra Birkenstock or bust: How a deeply uncool shoe became a modern must-have
1970-01-01 08:00
Football transfer rumours: Milan enter Maguire race; Liverpool consider Osimhen move
Tuesday's roundup of transfer rumours includes news on Milan's interest in Harry Maguire, Liverpool's admiration of Victor Osimhen, Real Madrid's valuation of Antonio Silva and more.
1970-01-01 08:00
GKN Powder Metallurgy and Schaeffler Join Forces to Further Develop the Permanent Magnet Supply Chain in Europe and North America
BONN, Germany--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct 17, 2023--
1970-01-01 08:00
Ukraine-Russia war – live: Putin’s latest assault weakens as Moscow denies accepting North Korea weapons
Russia has lost 127 tanks, 239 armoured personnel vehicles (APVs) and 161 artillery systems in a week, Kyiv has said as Vladimir Putin launches a sustained assault in the east of Ukraine. Moscow’s forces lost eight tanks, 25 APVs and 33 artillery systems in the past day, Ukraine’s General Staff said on Sunday. The Independent cannot independently confirm Kyiv’s numbers which come after Putin claimed Ukraine‘s counteroffensive “completely failed”. “As for the counteroffensive, which is allegedly stalling, it has failed completely,” Putin said in video remarks posted to social media by a Kremlin journalist Pavel Zarubin. Russia currently controls about 17.5% of Ukrainian territory and a four-month-old Ukrainian counteroffensive this year has resulted in almost no net territorial gains. Read More Russian attacks kill six in Ukraine as Kyiv ramps up drone counter strikes Russian governor reported to police for speaking out over Putin’s ‘unnecessary’ war against Ukraine Ukrainian forces release video of downed Russian Mi-8 helicopter: ‘It burns beautifully’
1970-01-01 08:00
Sean Hannity called a 'hack' after Fox News anchor mocks Joe Biden as Jill Biden helped him get off stage
Internet became furious and brutally slammed the Fox News anchor as one wrote, 'That’s not what was happening – LOSER!'
1970-01-01 08:00
Poland's ruling conservatives lose majority in parliament to centrist coalition, final count shows
A complete ballot count confirms that three coalition parties that vowed to restore democratic standards in Poland together won over 54% of the votes in the nation’s weekend election
1970-01-01 08:00
Virgin Australia's IPO executive David Marr resigns
Bain Capital-owned Virgin Australia on Tuesday said its Chief Development Officer David Marr, who was assigned to lead
1970-01-01 08:00
'Don't they have a war to fight': Israel trolled for wasting time 'beefing' with Gigi Hadid
Internet trolls Israeli authorities for condemning Gigi Hadid's incredibly subdued pro-Palestine post
1970-01-01 08:00
IShowSpeed expresses frustration as Indian fans playfully taunt him saying 'Messi is the GOAT'
Indian fans playfully teased IShowSpeed, known for his admiration of Ronaldo, with chants of Lionel Messi
1970-01-01 08:00
Sweden players take overnight flight home, start returning to clubs after shooting in Belgium
Sweden players are returning to their clubs after taking an overnight flight home from Brussels following the suspension of their European Championship qualifier against Belgium at halftime because a gunman killed two Swedish nationals before kickoff
1970-01-01 08:00
Stocks, bonds in China's Gemdale dive on property crisis fears
By Xie Yu and Li Gu HONG KONG/SHANGHAI China's Gemdale saw its stocks and bonds plunge on Tuesday
1970-01-01 08:00
