California inspired shoe line SeaVees opened its new showroom in August and has already made a footprint in the Santa Barbara retail scene. The SeaVees brand was founded by the rubber company B.F. Goodrich in 1964 and was inspired by the California dream of the ’60s era — surfing, the Beach Boys, Dustin Hoffman, Steve McQueen. “These were things that were established in the ’60s but they live on. Sixties were the definition of modern and so that influence is always there,” said current company owner Steven Tiller.
The brand was dormant for 40 years and when Tiller, who was working with Sperry Top-Sider, discovered SeaVees in 2005 he was able to re-launch it in 2010. With SeaVees’ tagline, Authentic California, there was no place better that symbolized and captured California quite like Santa Barbara.
Moving a block down from its original location to Ortega Street, SeaVees has been experiencing a lot more foot traffic. With its Parking Space Sessions, the shoe company opens its doors to musicians passing through Santa Barbara and invites them to play short pop-up sets — bringing together the combined love for independent music and just having a good time.