KUALA LUMPUR: The fashion community paid tribute to world renowned shoemaker Datuk Jimmy Choo at the Stylo Fashion Grand Prix opening gala by honouring him as a mentor par excellence.

He received the Mercedes-Benz Stylo “Most Iconic Fashion Mentor” award from the Raja Permaisuri Agong Tuanku Nur Zahirah.

“I feel very honoured to be given this award. I want to do more for my country as well as contribute to education and arts.

“In London, I also work with international students who train at my workshop but it is more important to help my country develop more skilled people,” he added.

Choo, who has been training students for the past 13 years, said that in the past, shoe-making masters or sifus could be quite selfish.

“They would rather not teach and transfer their skills to anyone.

“But for me, I like to teach because the better my students are, the better I am as well,” he added.

Stylo president and chief executive officer Datuk Nancy Yeoh said the award was to honour Choo, as the shoe master had always been a great mentor to many students.

She also credited him for bridging the gap between Malaysia and Britain.

“We are proud of him. Jimmy will continue to inspire students around the world,” she added.

The evening also saw the launch of the Stylo Academy.

The glitzy red carpet gala last night, called “Fashion’s Tribute to 1Malaysia”, featured some of the top local fashion designers such as Bill Keith, Datuk Tom Abang Saufi, Jendela KL and Khoon Hooi.

It also featured the debut of Kavita Sidhu’s Resort Collection.

Among those present at the gala were Mercedes-Benz chief executive officer Peter Honegg, designer Marko Mitanovski with make-up and hair stylists Issidora Petrovic and Nina Butkovich-Budden, Pavilion CEO Joyce Yap, and Star Publications (M) Bhd group managing director and chief executive officer Datin Linda Ngiam and executive director and group chief editor Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai.