Photo Credit: CAT Footwear

Last night was a special one for Shontelle Layne.

The Barbados-born singer and songwriter performed at a Fashion’s Night Out event in New York to celebrate the debut of her new shoe line with CAT Footwear. Shontelle, who describes herself as a “creator and a chameleon who fits in where and when I need to,” definitely stood out last night.

The singer, known for co-writing hits such as Alison Hinds’ ‘Roll It Gal,’ and Rihanna’s ‘Man Down,’ and singing her own songs ‘T-Shirt’ and ‘No Gravity,’ professes that she’s always been business-minded. Her partnership with CAT is just one example of that.

Shontelle’s collaboration with CAT Footwear began more than two years ago when she was selected to be an ambassador for the brand’s Earth Movers campaign. After the success of that venture, CAT proposed the idea of doing a capsule collection. Now the capsule collection is a reality and she’s gearing up for her third studio album.

We caught up with Shontelle earlier this week to discuss her CAT collaboration, her design philosophy and the impact growing up in Barbados had on her life. Keep reading to learn more.

Madame Noire: Your relationship with CAT Footwear began almost two years ago. How did the collaboration come about? 

Shontelle Layne: My collaboration with CAT came about when Peter Flores, the director who filmed a web docuseries on me, introduced me to Jennifer Reeves, global marketing for CAT Footwear. Jenn and I bonded immediately as I shared stories of my life and my career. She decided I would be the perfect Earth Mover. After doing the Earth Mover Campaign I was approached by Jenn and CAT to do a collection. I never saw that coming! I still pinch myself.

MN: Is this your first brand endorsement? 

SL: I’ve been lucky to have the support of many brands throughout my career. The major endorsement I had before CAT was with VEET, after I released the video for ‘T-Shirt’ in 2009. They loved my legs and we did a campaign that was featured in a lot of major magazines.

MN: Why a shoe line?  

SL: CAT Footwear makes beautiful shoes and boots! And the irony of working with CAT now is that 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.” My grandmother, Ms. Delia, was also obsessed with shoes and according to my family she passed that on to me.