Selin Olmsted discovered her passion for art and design at a young age while growing up in Istanbul, Turkey.
She was continually influenced by the diverse textures around her such as the metropolitan cityscapes and the style of people living in Istanbul. This, with her love of fashion, brought her to NYC to study at The Fashion Institute of Technology. After graduating from F.I.T.’s Fashion Design BFA program, Selin designed menswear for 10 years.
While in the menswear field, Selin was introduced to an opportunity at Warby Parker. While at Warby Parker, she created several collections from concept to production. Selin then ventured out on her own and became an independent eyewear designer. She now creates sun and optical eyewear for brands in the U.S. and England.
Her passion for all aspects of eyewear design continues to grow. Selin describes this love for her art in the following way:
It seems unusual at first glance, but I have always been fascinated by the materials and degree of detail you can achieve in eyewear design. The fact that designing in millimeters can have such a profound impact on a person’s face and the way they feel about themselves is exciting. I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of seeing someone’s expression change as they try a pair of glasses that fit them perfectly. Watching their confidence grow, feeling great as they see themselves in a new light is one of the most rewarding feelings in my work.
Nora Toure: Selin, could you let us know about your background and what brought you into 3D printing in the first place?
Selin Olmsted: Originally from Istanbul, Turkey, I have completed BFA Fashion Design program at the Fashion Institute of Technology, New York. After my studies, I have worked as a menswear designer for 10 years. Then thanks to a freelance opportunity, I have started designing eyewear, which became my full-time profession after 6 months of freelancing.
I have been designing eyewear for the past 5 years. Currently thanks to some of our manufacturers, I have started being exposed to 3D printed prototypes before production.
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