
UAE lifts visa restrictions for Nigerians
The United Arab Emirates has lifted a year-long visa ban imposed on Nigerian travelers, authorities in the West African country said Monday.
2023-09-12 01:25

Chinese Soybean Appetite Is Fading, Meat Producer Says
Chinese soybean demand growth is expected to wane in the next few years amid slower population growth and
2023-08-23 03:17

Shoe designer Jimmy Choo reveals the best advice he has ever received
His shoes have been worn by everyone from Diana, Princess of Wales, to Beyoncé, but legendary designer Jimmy Choo said his greatest achievement is setting up his own fashion school. Professor Choo – as he’s known to his students – set up the JCA London Fashion Academy in September 2021, calling it his “dream”. “I feel very proud – I know my dream has come true,” he told the PA news agency ahead of the masters students presenting their final collections. “My father said to me: whatever you learn, put it back to the industry. So we are lucky we have the JCA – I can put all my spirit and my knowledge, [and] give back to the students.” Before becoming a professor, Choo, 74, made his name with glamorous high-fashion footwear. After moving from his native Malaysia to study in the UK, he set up his eponymous brand in 1996 – designing heels for Diana, as well as being worn on red carpets all over the world and getting a nod in an episode of Sex And The City (when Sarah Jessica Parker’s fashion-obsessed character Carrie Bradshaw famously laments: “I lost my Choo!”) He’s delighted with the JCA Academy, but in a nod to his glittering career, Choo added: “I’ve had a lot of proud moments, from personally designing shoes for Princess Diana and other incredible VIPs [to] seeing emerging designers that I’ve mentored succeeding in their careers.” And while he’s an industry veteran, Choo said he’s still constantly learning. “The best piece of advice I received was to learn as much as possible,” he said, which is particularly important in the fashion industry where “everything changes”. He said: “The material, design, machinery, fabric – everything changes. So you have to adapt. Whatever you do, you must learn something.” Sustainability is one of the biggest areas of change in the fashion industry. “Now people [are] talking about sustainability – how to help the environment and that kind of thing,” Choo explained. “Everyone has to think about the future of the earth – if you spend so much and waste so many things, nature will be in trouble and so will we.” He looks to his students for inspiration, who “never fail to amaze me”. “Sophie Park was one of our footwear designers who made shoes out of plant-based materials such as cacti, pineapple and leaves. Olivia Black and Polly McKevitt both have collections made out of deadstock and materials that would have otherwise been discarded.” Choo enjoys working with young people because “they will listen to you”, and added: “They’re also very down to earth, willing to learn – that’s very important.” In turn, Choo emphasises to his students the importance of asking questions. “You have to ask why,” he said, giving the example of making a suit that doesn’t fit right and questioning why you can’t button the jacket up. “Because you’ve cut the pattern wrong, so your button cannot close. [With] only one inch, you made the whole thing difficult. The key to success, according to Choo, is collaboration – something which isn’t necessarily the norm in the highly competitive fashion industry. At the JCA, he said he never wants anyone to think they’re “better than you, [or] you’re better than me”, he said. “If you’re better than anyone we should share their ideas and the whole thing benefits. We cannot be selfish.” It’s something he suggests is missing from the wider fashion industry. “Of course it’s important to own your ideas, but creativity flourishes when you can bounce ideas off other people. I think it’s important to have a network of people that you can speak openly with in the interest of improving and sparking creativity.” Among all the good advice propelling Choo’s career to the stratosphere, what was the worst he ever got? “Maybe it’s when someone told me I should retire.” Read More The grown-up guide to getting ‘balletcore’ right From tradwife dresses to racist polo shirts: What happens when your clothes become political weapons? Birkenstock or bust: How a deeply uncool shoe became a modern must-have This is shoe designer Jimmy Choo’s proudest achievement See Madonna’s extravagant tour outfits – including an updated cone bra Birkenstock or bust: How a deeply uncool shoe became a modern must-have
2023-10-17 16:26

China Plans Emergency Food Support for Some African Nations
China will provide emergency food assistance to some African nations, President Xi Jinping said during a meeting with
2023-08-25 03:23

San Francisco Targets Hot Dog Stands, Homeless People in APEC Crackdown
San Francisco is cracking down on hot dog vendors and urging people living on the street to seek
2023-10-24 18:22

How I learned to love my incessant blushing
It's a Saturday afternoon and I'm standing in line at a supermarket holding a lemon,
2023-06-13 17:45

World hunger stops rising but remains elevated: UN
World hunger stopped rising in 2022 after growing for seven years but remains above pre-pandemic levels and far off track to be eradicated by...
2023-07-12 22:24

Does Flamin’ Hot Just Perpetuate Capitalism’s “Pull Yourself Up By Your Bootstraps” Myth?
I love Flamin’ Hot Cheetos — as in, I will grab a bag for myself at least once a week. Even better with limón, the snack has meant so much to the Mexican-American community since they debuted on the market in the early 1990s. Like other spicy, addictive snacks popular in Mexico and Mexican communities all over the world, Flamin’ Hot Cheetos have become something that’s uniquely ours, a representation of our ingenuity and creativity, all encapsulated on our red-tipped fingers.
2023-06-21 02:25

The Best PC Games for 2023
You're faced with many purchasing options upon booting Epic Games Store, Steam, Xbox, or any
2023-07-29 23:24

The Print Bar in Australia: Everything you need to know
Printing your own custom designs on t-shirts, tote bags, small accessories and more is far
2023-08-21 05:21

Dr Mukwege: from Congo's Nobel winner to presidential hopeful
Congolese surgical gynaecologist Denis Mukwege, who won the Nobel prize for his work with rape victims, is renowned at home for his boundless energy and biting criticism of...
2023-10-02 23:53

Make the Switch: How to Control Your iPhone or iPad With Head Movements
If you have trouble using your iPhone or iPad with your hands, you can use
2023-06-13 23:46
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