1. MARKETPLACE
JUNIORS’ ×
Photo:scottWitter
Designer Passions
48 | | JUNE 4, 2012
In ConcertSeychelles and BC Footwear designer Miranda Selwyn turns to the
music stage for creative inspiration. by kristen henning
W
hen Miranda Selwyn dances and
mingles at a concert, she’s also
thinking about work.
The senior designer at Sey-
chelles and BC Footwear is an avid
concertgoer, regularly attending
everything from full-day music festivals to one-
night performances at L.A. hotspots. It’s a passion
that has always been closely associated with a love
of shoes — and one that now inspires her work as a
designer.
“When I was little, my dad and I would put on
music and I’d dance in my mom’s high heels be-
cause I liked the noise they made,” recalled Selwyn,
who attended the Fashion Institute of Design &
Merchandising in Los Angeles before starting at
the brands eight years ago. “I’ve loved shoes since I
was 3 years old.”
Fast forward a few decades and Selwyn now
attends concerts a few times per month. Most
recently she went to the Coachella Valley Music &
Arts Festival in California to see Radiohead, Flor-
ence & the Machine and Gotye, among others, and
next she’s planning to hit the Hollywood Bowl’s
world music series — all while working full-time to
create the two footwear lines, which have a similar
design aesthetic.
Indeed, Selwyn said, the culture at music festi-
vals is fortifying as an artist, and everything from
the bands and their fans to the venues combine
to make a creative setting. Design and music have
always been closely tied, and for Selwyn it’s no
different.
“I love outdoor festivals and the environment
there. It’s a way to see fashion and be inspired by
the music,” she said. “It’s a great opportunity for
people watching.”
As a result, the designer often brings along a
notebook to jot down ideas.
“It’s really easy to have inspiration boards be
black and white, but when you get into the world
you see people put themselves together in a really
creative way,” she said. “There is so much inspira-
tion to be had by combining the essences of the
music and the environment.”
Specifically, Selwyn started to notice a mod,
1960s look resurfacing while at shows, and she de-
cided to create styles for the fall ’12 Seychelles col-
lection that would complement the apparel trends.
These included ladylike pumps and block heels.
“It’s everywhere, with 1960s-inspired music
and ‘Mad Men,’” she said. “So it’s about gathering a
sense of the [current] culture as a whole.”
And because day-long shows usually require
hours of standing, Selwyn said her experiences
have fueled various design ideas about providing a
comfort focus.
“When you’re at a festival, you want to be stylish,
but you have to brave the elements, so comfort is
key,” she said. “That ties into our brands. We don’t
make uncomfortable shoes. I always think about
the best shoe you could [wear to] dance all night.”
These days, traveling for work has broadened
Selwyn’s love of music and given it a new scope.
While in Tokyo for a recent business trip, she con-
nected with an old friend who put her on the list
at a nightclub to see The Keystones perform. And
with a home base in Los Angeles, Selwyn regu-
larly attends gigs at The Roxy Theatre, where she
recently caught a Little Dragon show.
“It’s such an incredible venue. It’s one of those
places that has such an old Hollywood feeling,” she
said of the famed nightclub on the Sunset Strip.
“What I love most is it allows a traveling circus to
come in — any fan group or band.”
Now the designer is putting the finishing touch-
es on the spring ’13 lines for Seychelles and BC, and
gearing up for the trade show season. But she’ll
still make time for Outside Lands, a San Francisco
music festival in August.
“The [concert scene] motivates me to be one
step ahead and create exciting, comfortable and
culturally relevant footwear that can keep up with
[our consumers’] exciting lifestyles,” Selwyn said.
Miranda Selwyn,
photographed at
The Roxy in
Los Angeles
There is so much
inspiration to be had
by combining the
essences of the music
and the environment
[at concerts].”
— Miranda Selwyn, Seychelles
and BC Footwear
![MARKETPLACE
JUNIORS’ ×
Photo:scottWitter
Designer Passions
48 | | JUNE 4, 2012
In ConcertSeychelles and BC Footwear designer Miranda Selwyn turns to the
music stage for creative inspiration. by kristen henning
W
hen Miranda Selwyn dances and
mingles at a concert, she’s also
thinking about work.
The senior designer at Sey-
chelles and BC Footwear is an avid
concertgoer, regularly attending
everything from full-day music festivals to one-
night performances at L.A. hotspots. It’s a passion
that has always been closely associated with a love
of shoes — and one that now inspires her work as a
designer.
“When I was little, my dad and I would put on
music and I’d dance in my mom’s high heels be-
cause I liked the noise they made,” recalled Selwyn,
who attended the Fashion Institute of Design &
Merchandising in Los Angeles before starting at
the brands eight years ago. “I’ve loved shoes since I
was 3 years old.”
Fast forward a few decades and Selwyn now
attends concerts a few times per month. Most
recently she went to the Coachella Valley Music &
Arts Festival in California to see Radiohead, Flor-
ence & the Machine and Gotye, among others, and
next she’s planning to hit the Hollywood Bowl’s
world music series — all while working full-time to
create the two footwear lines, which have a similar
design aesthetic.
Indeed, Selwyn said, the culture at music festi-
vals is fortifying as an artist, and everything from
the bands and their fans to the venues combine
to make a creative setting. Design and music have
always been closely tied, and for Selwyn it’s no
different.
“I love outdoor festivals and the environment
there. It’s a way to see fashion and be inspired by
the music,” she said. “It’s a great opportunity for
people watching.”
As a result, the designer often brings along a
notebook to jot down ideas.
“It’s really easy to have inspiration boards be
black and white, but when you get into the world
you see people put themselves together in a really
creative way,” she said. “There is so much inspira-
tion to be had by combining the essences of the
music and the environment.”
Specifically, Selwyn started to notice a mod,
1960s look resurfacing while at shows, and she de-
cided to create styles for the fall ’12 Seychelles col-
lection that would complement the apparel trends.
These included ladylike pumps and block heels.
“It’s everywhere, with 1960s-inspired music
and ‘Mad Men,’” she said. “So it’s about gathering a
sense of the [current] culture as a whole.”
And because day-long shows usually require
hours of standing, Selwyn said her experiences
have fueled various design ideas about providing a
comfort focus.
“When you’re at a festival, you want to be stylish,
but you have to brave the elements, so comfort is
key,” she said. “That ties into our brands. We don’t
make uncomfortable shoes. I always think about
the best shoe you could [wear to] dance all night.”
These days, traveling for work has broadened
Selwyn’s love of music and given it a new scope.
While in Tokyo for a recent business trip, she con-
nected with an old friend who put her on the list
at a nightclub to see The Keystones perform. And
with a home base in Los Angeles, Selwyn regu-
larly attends gigs at The Roxy Theatre, where she
recently caught a Little Dragon show.
“It’s such an incredible venue. It’s one of those
places that has such an old Hollywood feeling,” she
said of the famed nightclub on the Sunset Strip.
“What I love most is it allows a traveling circus to
come in — any fan group or band.”
Now the designer is putting the finishing touch-
es on the spring ’13 lines for Seychelles and BC, and
gearing up for the trade show season. But she’ll
still make time for Outside Lands, a San Francisco
music festival in August.
“The [concert scene] motivates me to be one
step ahead and create exciting, comfortable and
culturally relevant footwear that can keep up with
[our consumers’] exciting lifestyles,” Selwyn said.
Miranda Selwyn,
photographed at
The Roxy in
Los Angeles
There is so much
inspiration to be had
by combining the
essences of the music
and the environment
[at concerts].”
— Miranda Selwyn, Seychelles
and BC Footwear](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/5df05a2b-65b1-4dbf-ad1e-a7966d91a472-150418112556-conversion-gate02/85/42-jundesignerpassions060412-1-320.jpg)
