Shoe designer Jimmy Choo talks to De Montfort University students

He has designed shoes for icons from Kylie Minogue to Princess Diana, but couture legend Jimmy Choo said yesterday the person he would most like to make shoes for is his late mother.

Speaking on a visit to De Montfort University in Leicester, where he holds an honorary doctorate, the Malaysian-born designer said creating footwear for celebrities was great, but family was the most important thing.

"If my mum was still alive I would like to make some shoes for her. She is why I am here," he said.

"It's nice to make shoes for a celebrity but your own family is more important."

Despite becoming a worldwide household name, Choo remains down to earth about his life and success.

He said: "I still feel the same person. I have to remember where I came from and all of that.

"My father was a shoe designer, I grew up with shoes. I learned from my father how to make shoes. I loved what my parents were doing.

"When you love what you are doing you can always come up with designs."

Choo spent his early years on the Malaysian island of Penang working as an apprentice for his father.

He came to London in the 1980s to study footwear at Cordwainers College before setting up his own couture label.

From a small workshop in Hackney, London, he has since become one of the best-known names in the fashion world, making shoes for stars including Beyonce, Scarlett Johansson, Gwyneth Paltrow and Katie Holmes.

But he told crowds of footwear students at De Montfort University – home of the UK's only specialist Footwear Honours degree – that as well as shoes he plans to branch out into TV.

Cracking jokes throughout his talk to an audience of more than 80 students, he said: "I feel like I'm a superstar, but not a big superstar – a small superstar. I would like to be like the ex-Prime Minister Tony Blair. Hopefully one day I can charge for my talks like Tony.

"Hopefully the next talk I will get some pay for myself, even 20 quid or 50 quid, and I can take myself to Chinatown and get some dim sum," he told the crowd.

"I would like my own television show. I have my good friends Jamie Oliver and Gordon Ramsay and they have their shows – cooking cooking, cooking – but so far nobody has seen a shoe designer go on a TV show and tell people how to wear a beautiful shoe.

"This is my next step, then I can get more people interested in shoe design."

Choo's visit to Leicester came as high street chain H&M announced a new collaboration with the brand that holds his own name. He also spoke of the importance of craftsmanship, in being able to make the shoes he designs.

Choo has received many awards, including the Freedom of the Company of Cordwainers – an ancient body of shoemakers.