KUALA LUMPUR - Shoe designer Datuk Jimmy Choo will be doing something that he has not done for many years celebrating Chinese New Year at home in Malaysia.
The Spring Festival seemed to have lost some of its charm on the jet-setting, world famous shoemaker, who had to celebrate the occasion with his family in whatever city they happened to be in for the past 10 years.
However, this Year of the Snake, the entire Choo family is back! And the renowned designer is excited.
"There is nothing like celebrating Chinese New Year in Malaysia.
"This is my homeland and my homeland is very important to me. I finally get to be back with my family and friends. We will be visiting a lot of open houses this year," he said.
To reflect the festive mood, Choo's residence in Mont Kiara has been decked out in decorative must-haves red lanterns, bamboo springs, money plants, ribbons and even snake plush toys.
In the kitchen, there are trays of candies, pastries and an abundance of mandarin oranges for the guests.
The designer, whose creations are the favourite of many celebrities, has confessed to even buying a new outfit for himself this year.
"It's just like old times. The hair can't be helped though," said the balding Choo.
He said he could still fondly recall the new clothes as well as the delicious feasting on loh sang and sea cucumber, which was but one of the many happy memories of the holidays during his younger days in Penang.
Remembering how his mother used to march him to the shops for new clothes and a haircut on the eve of the big day, Choo said: "When Chinese New Year came, we dressed up in our best and went to the Kuan Yin Temple to perform prayers.
"The best was feasting on the loh sang and sea cucumber and getting ang pow!" he said.
Choo, who is also the country's tourism ambassador, said he hoped that Malaysia would prosper even further in the coming years.
Besides being part of the Genovasi project that develops young talent and an honorary professor of Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM), he recently accompanied Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak at the World Economic Forum in Davos last month.
