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A Fashionable Farewell: Co-founder of Jimmy Choo Quits After 15 Years

Kelly Hanelt |
November 14, 2011 | 6:29 p.m. PST

Staff Reporter

Tamara Mellon modeling her own stylish pair of Jimmy Choo's. (Flickr)
Tamara Mellon modeling her own stylish pair of Jimmy Choo's. (Flickr)
Looks like Jimmy Choo doesn’t have to wait for the other shoe to drop. Tamara Mellon, co-founder and director, has quit her position at the luxury brand, it was announced yesterday. After a successful 15 year run, bringing the company from just an idea to a fashionable household name, Mellon has decided to depart from the company, on amicable terms of course. 

This news comes right on the heels of the resignation of CEO Joshua Schulman. But what sparked these two key players to part  ways with the company they helped raise? Some speculate it is the acquisition of Jimmy Choo by luxury fashion firm Labelux six months ago. However, Schulman commented to Footwear News that “Jimmy Choo is in a great place and Labelux is a great fit for the brand. It will continue to thrive.” 

Mellon’s departure was announced over the Jimmy Choo Twitter account (@JimmyChooLtd) early Sunday with this message, “As our Chief Creative Officer Tamara Mellon, OBE steps down, everyone at Jimmy Choo thanks her for 15 years of leadership and creative vision.” Mellon took to her personal account (@TamaraMellon) later that day to express her gratitude for support following the split. She said, “Just retweeted all of your amazing messages – Thank you all my tweet friends. I will keep you posted!”

Mellon started the company back in 1996, when she was accessories editor at British Vogue. Together with Malaysian cobbler Jimmy Choo, she started a company that has been immortalized over the past 15 years on the feet of such stars as Gwyneth Paltrow, Victoria Beckham, Kate Hudson, and perhaps most memorably of all, Carrie Bradshaw. More recently however, Mellon was awarded Harper’s Bazaar businesswoman of the year award for 2011. 

Mellon is leaving the company with 85 million pounds, about 135.51 million U.S. dollars, from the sale to Labelux.  

According to an article on Dailymail.co.uk, suspicions are that post Mellon’s departure, Jimmy Choo’s future, as a company, will be heading in a very different direction. A more accessible and affordable direction, the article proposes. So, Jimmy Choo’s new direction may grace the closets of fashion forward females everywhere with new, more affordable styles? Well, if the shoe fits!

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