Back in 2010, Bajan born beauty Shontelle was shouting her songs of heartbreak from the roof tops and writing on the skyline on the smash hit “Impossible,” which earned her over 50 million YouTube views.

Known for her ballads of heartbreak and breakups, the singer has recently switched lanes, designed some shoes, and is planning a full-force return to conquer both the music and fashion realms.

GlobalGrind had the opportunity to catch up with the singer to talk about everything from the inspiration behind her new line, to how she feels about being compared to Rihanna.

GlobalGrind: Can you explain how each of the 4 styles of boots from the line epitomizes the essence of your home country?

Shontelle: The colorways of each boot are inspired by the ocean and the flora and fauna of Barbados. The name of each boot is a place in Barbados of significance to me. The trident (which is featured on the tongues and inner lining of each boot) represents my heritage. It is actually a broken trident (the staff is short because it has been broken). It is prominent on our flag and is our national symbol of independence. I apply that to my life. I feel as though I have had to embrace and conquer the seemingly impossible and find my own independence. This collaboration is an expression of that desire and of all my hopes and dreams. Read More.

Singer/songwriter Shontelle is branching out! The talented songstress is showcasing her design skills with her new CAT x SHONTELLE footwear collection, which debuted during New York Fashion Week. Joonbug had the opportunity to chat with the gal of many trades about the inspiration behind the collection, her plans for the future, and more.
What made you want to get into fashion? And more specifically, footwear?

I guess the default answer is because CAT Footwear makes just that. SHOES! And beautiful BOOTS! I actually wore CATs throughout most of my school life. Not only because they were perfect with my school uniforms but they lasted forever (I only replaced them when I outgrew a size) and they were waterproof. So of course my parents loved that! In Barbados, if the bottom of your school shoes didn’t flash yellow, you weren’t cool. So thanks to CAT I’ve always been a “cool kid.” Always been an Earth Mover! My grandmother was also obsessed with shoes and apparently, according to my family, she passed that on to me. They feel as though this line is Ms. Delia, living through me…

How did you come up with the name for your collection?

The collection itself doesn’t yet have a name because the project just started out as a one time collaboration. So for now it’s called the CAT x SHONTELLE collection. Or simply CATs by Shontelle. But it felt so fun and so right that CAT Footwear decided to continue the collection for another season. Hopefully we can keep this going for a long time and eventually develop a full SHONTELLE line with its own established department and name. However, the names of the boots were all inspired by and derived from places in Barbados that were special or significant to my childhood. “Bridegtown” – The capital city of Barbados and also where I was born and first lived; “Bajan” – self explanitory; “Xtreme” – The name of my favorite night club where I most frequented. Unfortunately its now closed; “Sandy Lane” – My favorite Beach/Club Resort in Barbados.
What type of woman do you envision wearing your footwear?

All girls will want to wear my boots but they will be especially appreciated by girls and women on the go. Girls who lead busy lives and move around alot but want to feel beautiful and confident. The shoes on your feet affect your gate and the way you stand. Your posture is a reflection of your confidence. CATs by SHONTELLE were designed with all of this in mind. They are definitely designed to cater to a more fashionable girl but I didn’t overdo it so as to exclude the more conservative girl. But conservative doesn’t mean not fashionable or lacking confidence. Fashion comes in many forms. It’s the way we express ourselves. In essence, confident girls and girls who want to feel confident will wear CAT boots. Read more here.