KUALA LUMPUR, March 13 — Datuk Jimmy Choo and Zang Toi are arguably two of Malaysia’s biggest names in the glitzy world of high-end fashion who have dressed some of Hollywood’s hottest stars and celebrities worldwide from top to toe.

The success story of the Penang-born shoemaker and the Kelantan-born designer is also just as well known.

The duo, who were in town today to launch a shopping festival, had some good old-fashioned advice for the millennials who aspire to conquer the fashion world.

“People always think that I travel around the world, leading a glamorous lifestyle. But that’s just 10 per cent; 90 per cent was hard work,” the New York-based designer whose full name is Toi See Zang told a news conference at the Suria KLCC mall.

“Even today, I still work 24/7,” he added.

Choo agreed and attributed hard work for raising him from obscurity to worldwide fame.

“It is not easy to start business. The beginning was always the hardest,” Choo said.

He recalled how he used to save money for tuition fees by working and studying at the same time.

Toi also recalled his journey as a young student in New York 33 years ago, having to work two jobs to survive.

“I went to New York to study, with only US$300 (RM1,108) in my pocket. I had two jobs, get up early morning to work until midnight, go home and do homework. I basically had two to three hours of sleep,” he said.

The Kuala Krai native advised local designers who wanted success to remember that talent alone will not make them famous.

“There are a lot of talented people out there, but it is hard work that takes you two steps further.”