LEICESTER, England--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A Taiwanese footwear design student at De Montfort University (DMU) in Leicester, UK, has just had an opportunity every aspiring shoe designer would dream of – to spend the day with international shoe guru Professor Jimmy Choo OBE.

I Cheng Lin (Nikki), 21, originally from Taichung City in Taiwan has just spent two days (22 to 23 March) as Choo’s apprentice at his renowned Couture House in London, UK, where he still actively works with his team in the design and production of bespoke handmade shoes.

Nikki’s talent in shoe design won her the workshop when Choo visited DMU in November 2009 to give a masterclass to past and present footwear design students.

A firm supporter of education, Choo regularly mentors young shoe designers like Nikki at his studio. He said: “It is very important to me to give back to society. I want to give back to education in the UK, and give back to my father who taught me. Without them I would not be where I am today.

“If many people can follow my footsteps, it can be very beneficial for the young generation. I always tell my students to keep and open mind and be willing to learn from people, and then you can be successful.”

Nikki has been working with Choo and his team, learning how the whole process of couture works, from drawing skills to dealing with individual clients.

She said: “It has been inspiring learning about all the different skills and techniques from Jimmy Choo and I think all of his advice will be very helpful to me in the future.”

DMU’s unique BA (Hons) Footwear Design course is the only specialist footwear degree in the UK and has won support from Choo, who also holds an Honorary Doctorate from the University.

Choo was born in Penang, Malaysia into a family of shoemakers, making his first shoe at 11 years old.

His determination to follow in his fathers' footsteps and master the art of shoe design saw him arrive in London where he established his couture label in 1986. His made-to-order designs include an extensive range of bespoke handmade shoes, which are favoured by international stars worldwide, including the late Princess Diana.