An encounter with the skilled creativity!

Today I with few of my fellow classmates met the greatest shoemakers(Shoe designer would be more apt!) of our times. He not only touched our lives,but also somehow managed to add one more reason,for considering us lucky enough to have survived all audacity and be happy with present circumstances. The lecture at the British council today was not only a learning experience but also paved way for brainstorming the causes that we need to address from our real life instances. Along with answering many a queries in his cute Malaysian-Chinese accent and out of the world sense of humour, he personally interacted and autographed for everyone.
Here is some tangible facts about his life:
Jimmy Choo is Malaysian of Chinese descent, who was born in Penang in 1961 into a family of shoemakers. He made his first shoe when he was 11 years old. He is perhaps the most notable of students of Cordwainers' Technical College in Hackney, London, from which he graduated in 1983.Choo has divulged that he worked part-time at restaurants and as a cleaner at a shoe factory to help fund his college education.His beginnings can be traced back to his workshop in Hackney, East London, which he opened in 1986 by renting an old hospital building. His craftsmanship and designs were soon noticed and he came to the verge of international notability when his creations were featured in a record eight pages in a 1988 issue of Vogue magazine. Patronage from Diana, Princess of Wales from 1990 onwards further boosted his image.In 1996, he co-founded Jimmy Choo Ltd with British Vogue accessories editor Tamara Mellon.
No Celebrity tantrums
Being a designer of International repute, he was ought to have had loads of celebrity attitude and tantrums, but it was amazing to notice that he lacked one!He mentioned many a times his father, cousins with there family business of shoe making,vogue editor who gave him the required chance-all those who were instrumental in building steps to his ladder of success. The modesty with which he accepted his failure in speaking good English, to being a person with such a humble beginning, his calibre rests not in the fact that he utilized his innate skill, but in the fact that he embraces defeat and success with equal arms. Being attached to his roots -was something so obviously reflected. Being at a height and not selling your soul is something different and quite difficult to achieve.
The confidence and simplicity.
The Jimmy Choo label is not a novice in the field of shoe making, but in the initial years, even this great shoemaker had to let his name subdue under the names of some big fishes of fashion world. But,because he believed in his skill at hand and could easily make himself "necessary" for everyone, he paved his way for an "individual" niche! Being skilled makes you qualified enough to travel whole world and chalk out your own path of destiny. So,possessing something deep inside is so essential. One day if you are unable to work with some big names,for some reasons,it should be your boss who should be a considered a loser to not have had worked with you.
Since he designs only female footwear,so his own shoes are designed in his cousin's enterprise. He is not at all obsessed with his brand image!
He was made to hone his skill of shoe making with his father's pressure too, but he cannot push his 18 years old daughter similarly because the times have changed. The changing times demands more understanding between the relationships to sustain longer. This shows the adaptability Gen X'ers show which is worth learning. Even my father never feels hesitant in learning new technology things and sociological changes in approach in practically everything today,from Gen Y people like us.I saw the similar spark. Lack of superiority whim is so important!
Hard work pays.
There is no shortcut to hard work. If we think that only looking glamorous or being a part of page 3 party makes you a known face in fashion circles, then there is no other mis-conception like that. Social butterflies can reign only till the time flowers(extravagant Richie-rich people) are fresh, then they die! If you do not believe in the word 'diligence' then there is no place for you. Designing doesn't touches people's life as a doctor's job, or a lawyer's plea, but a good design can certainly make or break a star's image or even a commoner's identity! If a job like that of an engineer or an accountant demands 8-9 hours normally, a designer has to devote 16 hours for just thinking and planning.Execution can take much more time. The Buddhist ideals of forgiveness and let-live, let-go attitude was easily reflected in his life.
Although people do not consider shoe-making as an ideal honourable job, yet Jimmy choo's example has set forth new dimensions to my life. I am personally motivated enough to pursue something in this direction. Prior to this, I thought of taking footwear as a serious vocation,but it was not so intense.
This evening interaction shall remain in my memory for many years to come. It inspired and touched me, giving a direction to the flow of thoughts. Rather I should feel obliged to see such a day in my life! A real Mile-stone!