For our Ladies Who Lead series, the female founders of thriving global fashion labels share their journeys in design and their learnings along the way. Here, Sandra Choi, creative director of Jimmy Choo, discusses designing with a point of view and how if you put your mind to something you can always find a way to succeed
What did you set out to do for Jimmy Choo?
The most important thing for me was to improve on what has already been done. It gave me a sense of responsibility with excitement. The collections must have a point of view that can be maintained from season to season.
In hindsight, what is something you wish you knew that could have helped you?
There were times I wondered what I could have learned if I’d gained experience from other design houses, but saying so I've now worked with enough team members from other houses and I’ve learned a lot from them.
What was the best advice you were given and when have you applied it?
When growing up in Hong Kong my grandmother was a force of nature, making and fixing everything herself, which then instilled the idea in me that if you put your mind to it, there is always a way. I'm a designer so I need to find solutions to deliver an idea and I apply this thinking to everything.
Did you have a mentor or do you think you would have benefited from having one?
I don't have a mentor but I do have a trusted set of good friends from the industry who I can count on for advice. I do think having another person to bounce ideas [with] is always beneficial.
See also: BOYY’s Wannasiri Kongman on making bold decisions and daring to be different