Cindy Waters
NYC,NY
Summary
Creative, & Innovative Design Leader with over 18 years of diverse development roles in both luxury, and mass markets. Transforming and elevating product, bringing vision and the wow factor. Building core & creating collaborative business, design & branding strategies relevant to the influential trends, media, global changes, and evolving cultural shifts.
Overview
8
8
years of professional experience
Work History
Design Consultant
CLOSE TO ME
New York, New York
02.2025 - Current
- Lead development of Adaptive accessories.
- India / China
Design Consultant
THURSDAY BOOT CO.
01.2024 - Current
- Design Development for: All-Gender Rubber Rainboots, Boot & Slipper Shearling Program (China) Loafers, Drivers (Vietnam), Everyday Comfort Pumps (Vietnam/ Spain), Platform Cupped Sole Sneakers
- Handbag & accessory development including key chains and bag Charms (enamel, leather, and plushie)
- Hardware development for both handbags and shoes.
- branding graphics & embroidery
- Sneaker concepts
Freelance Designer
FORTUNE FOOTWEAR
10.2023 - 04.2024
- FW 2024 sketch development for: ALDO, JLO, MACYS On 34th, TORRID, THALIA, ADDITIONELLE, BELK CROWN & IVY.
Women's Footwear Design Manager
BBC INTERNATIONAL
01.2021 - 06.2023
- LANDS' END brand: Managing all design from concept to production ($27Million) SS22- SS24 categories including: Trail & Outdoors, Water Drainage, Rubber Shell & Cold Weather waterproofing, Comfort & Athletics, Leather Heritage Collections, and Slipper Programs.
- Spearheaded successful modernized aesthetic. Partnered closely w/ VP of Apparel & Home to coordinate needs. Launched an innovative all-gender franchise, capturing the hybrid outdoors meets contemporary athletics lifestyle.
- F22 and S23 sales growth of the transitional and fashion assortment within contemporary boots.
- Supporting clients company-wide measure to achieve sustainable practice by initiating sourcing & sampling with Ocean Waste mesh materials & integrating BLOOM (algae) insoles, for sneakers and slipper programs.
- Led design direction, and sales presentation meetings for new wholesale development. Working with accounts for SMUs, including Costco, QVS, Early projection of 5M program.
- Led all technical fittings in partnership with overseas Putian and Dongguan based teams.
- Supervising team of 3 designers, 2 freelancers.
- Additional sketch development for licenses: Champion, New Balance, Hello Kitty, Barbie
Guest Lecturer
Parsons School of Design
NYC, NY
06.2018 - 06.2022
- Featured lectures to domestic and international students on finding their design expression, developing their path and career explorations.
Adjunct Professor
Fashion Institute of Technology
NYC, NY
06.2019 - 01.2022
- 4Hr Studio course for junior year. Building the creative process, illustrations, & collection methodologies
Design Director
LUST 4 LIFE
01.2020 - 12.2020
- Creative Direction, sketches, development & material sourcing. (China, Mexico, Brazil)
- Accounts include: NEIMAN MARCUS & BLOOMINGDALES private label development. LULUS, DSW, RAINBOW, RACKROOM / OFF BROADWAY, BURLINGTON, FRANCESCAS
Design Consultant
LENA ERZIAK
01.2018 - 12.2020
- Contemporary & Luxury whimsical footwear - Made in Italy
Design Direction Consultant
BETSEY JOHNSON / STEVE MADDEN
- Bringing new Creative Direction and design taste to the Betsey Blue & Betsey Pink lines: heels, boots & sneakers.
Creative Director
HSM FOOTWEAR
- Women's & Kids footwear design / Strategic initiatives & client development: USA: JCP, TARGET, NYAM LISCENSING AGENCY | INTL: ANDRE PARIS, PRIMARK, ALDI
- Dongguan China
Sr, Womens Footwear Manager
SEARS HOLDINGS | KMART
- $189 million in volume annually. 9 brands (ranging from junior to dress contemporary, athletic & comfort): JACLYN SMITH, JOE BOXER, EVERLAST, ROUTE 66, NICKI MINAJ, ATTENTION, THOM MCANN, ATHLETEC,..
- 11 INTL factories, 3 domestic, 2 Mexico
- 30% increase in direct adoption ratio within 1st season of development | 86% direct penetration following 2 seasons.
- Travel to HK, DongGuan, ShenZhen, Putian, Fuzhou, Xiamnen- & Europe / Production: China & Mexico
Couture Archive Manager
VINTAGE LOFT NYC
- Care, Curating, Presenting, and Sales of luxury vintage to fashion elite brands (Oscar de la Renta, Kors, Lauren, JCrew)
Footwear Designer
VICTORIA'S SECRET
- Private Label - ($50 million annually via website & catalogue)
- SP12 record breaking sales performing up on average %15 for all of 2012 spring window.
- Created & executed new brand identity logo & packaging that debuted for Spring 12.
Trend Manager
LIZ CLAIBORNE INC
- Trend & Concept Direction with all 47 BRANDS in LCI portfolio (all gender apparel & accessories): DKNY JEANS, LUCKY BRAND JEANS, JUICY, DANA BUCHMAN, KATE SPADE, KENSIE, MEXX, & Liz Claiborne...
- Track and provide selling competition, product opportunities, consumer habits, global design influences, innovative approaches to integrating & selling product and sustainability. Brand strategies and profiles. Acquisition research.
- Managing design archives & handling of vintage couture garments De-accessioned from the MET museum.
Design Assistant & Illustrator
HEIDI WEISEL
- Luxury evening wear atelier. Main Stockists: NEIMANS, BARNEYS, BERGDORF GOODMAN.
- Full sketch and sample development, showroom, fitting, european mill sourcing, domestic production.
Education
BFA -
PARSONS SCHOOL OF DESIGN
01.2006
Skills
Footwear Design 360, including concept, technical sketch / blueprint, sourcing, lead on fittings, to final production
Trend Forecasting
Project Managment
- Footwear design
- Trend analysis
- Material sourcing
- Technical fittings
- Branding graphics
- Project management
- Client development
- Sustainable practices
- Creative direction
- Team leadership
- Effective communication
- Presentation skills
- Attention to detail
- Problem solving
- Visual storytelling
- Concept development
- Illustration
Websites
Timeline
Design Consultant
CLOSE TO ME
02.2025 - Current
Design Consultant
THURSDAY BOOT CO.
01.2024 - Current
Freelance Designer
FORTUNE FOOTWEAR
10.2023 - 04.2024
Women's Footwear Design Manager
BBC INTERNATIONAL
01.2021 - 06.2023
Design Director
LUST 4 LIFE
01.2020 - 12.2020
Adjunct Professor
Fashion Institute of Technology
06.2019 - 01.2022
Guest Lecturer
Parsons School of Design
06.2018 - 06.2022
Design Consultant
LENA ERZIAK
01.2018 - 12.2020
Design Direction Consultant
BETSEY JOHNSON / STEVE MADDEN
Creative Director
HSM FOOTWEAR
Sr, Womens Footwear Manager
SEARS HOLDINGS | KMART
Couture Archive Manager
VINTAGE LOFT NYC
Footwear Designer
VICTORIA'S SECRET
Trend Manager
LIZ CLAIBORNE INC
Design Assistant & Illustrator
HEIDI WEISEL
BFA -
PARSONS SCHOOL OF DESIGN