Jimmy Choo

Jimmy Choo weaves the tribal and ethnic literally and decoratively into its Spring Summer ’12 collection with IRIS. Inspired by the inimitable style of fashion innovator and doyenne of ethnic embellishment, Iris Apfel, Jimmy Choo has created the ultimate homage to the grande dame of idiosyncratic fashion. Apfel’s witty and exuberantly original style was singled out by the Costume Institute of the Metropolitan Museum of Art who devoted an exhibition to her style entitled, “Rara Avis (Rare Bird): Selections from the Iris Apfel Collection”. Indeed, recognition is coming late in life for nonagenarian Apfel who will also be the subject of a documentary by famed filmmaker Albert Maysles.

Creative Directors Sandra Choi and Simon Holloway took inspiration from Apfel’s maximalist style and bold layering of tribal and ethnic jewelry. Hand-woven in leather macrame, the IRIS sandal is embellished with multi-coloured resin ornaments, an ode to the magpie style of the sandal’s namesake. The same multi-coloured cascade of resin and woven leather also appears in similar splendour on HOLLY a flat sandal and XARA, a fringed bag with woven wooden beads, a tassel of resin chip ornaments, and multi-coloured chain-link strap.