Niya Cole
Brooklyn,NY
Summary
Results-driven Senior Product Development Manager with 7+ years of experience in apparel development and production across Women's Ready-to-Wear, Childrenswear, Junior, Missy's, and Menswear categories. Expertise in leading cross-functional teams, managing the end-to-end product lifecycle, and aligning creative design with business strategy. Skilled in global fabric sourcing, sustainable material innovation, and fabric R&D, with a strong foundation in textiles, yarns, and dyeing techniques. Proven success in vendor and mill management, fabric testing, and ensuring compliance with quality and performance standards. Proficient in PLM systems and known for thriving in fast-paced, deadline-driven environments.
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Colorist
RDG Global
02.2025 - 06.2025
- Supported color development and approval processes for junior and missy contemporary lines under the Color Production division, ensuring alignment with brand standards, retailer requirements, and regulatory compliance.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partnered with design, sales, production, care label compliance, and operations teams for brands including TJX, Nordstrom, Rachel Roy, Ross Stores, HSN, Kohl’s, Lane Bryant, and Macy’s.
- Strike-Off & Sample Approval: Managed strike-off approval process for Junior and Missy seasonal collections across RDG Global and off-price brands. Conducted prototype and top-of-production (PP & TOP) sample evaluations alongside design teams to ensure color and quality standards.
- Color and Fabric Development: Oversaw over 100+ lab dip to bulk color approvals, including accessories such as hanger loops, and knit-downs. Approved sweater knit-downs, solids, and lab dips in the PLM system.
- Compliance & Testing: Approved fabric testing results, color standards, care labels, and country of origin information to ensure compliance with RDG’s internal guidelines and CPSIA regulations.
- Vendor Communication: Coordinated with overseas factories on fabric placement, lab dips, knit-downs, and strike-offs during development.
- Process & Timeline Management: Participated in Pre-MTP and MTP meetings to maintain seasonal alignment, and track progress. Maintained T&A calendars to ensure development and sampling milestones were met.
- Sample and Material Tracking: Collaborated with the Director of Product Development on WIP reports to monitor.
- Established strong working relationships with clients, directors, and production staff to guarantee seamless communication throughout the project lifecycle.
- Prepared deliverables in various formats according to specifications provided by clients or distribution channels.
Product Approvals Manager
Garan Inc
08.2023 - 02.2024
- Co-led development, wash testing, and approval of graphics for Walmart-exclusive children’s brands under the Graphics Production division.
- Graphics Development & Approval: Oversaw the end-to-end strike-off process for graphics in Garanimals and Easy Peasy seasonal assortments (Newborn 0M–18M, Toddler 2T–5T), including fabric testing, graphic lab dips, technique development, and pre-production samples.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Worked closely with design, color, fabric, production, compliance, and operations teams, along with Walmart brand partners, to align graphics production with seasonal goals.
- Compliance & Testing: Partnered with third-party Consumer Testing Laboratories to secure approvals for all graphic licensed/in-house applications, ensuring compliance with Walmart Private Brand requirements and regulatory standards.
- Risk Mitigation & Quality Assurance: Advised senior management on compliance risks, identified graphic or material defects, and proposed corrective strategies to mitigate delays or safety issues.
- Sample & Label Execution: Coordinated with stakeholders to execute Pre-Production (PP) and TOP sample reviews, as well as hang tag and care label approvals for all graphic developments across woven and knit fabrics.
- Deadline and Quality Management: Balanced creative and production timelines to meet aggressive deadlines without compromising brand quality and value.
- Store & Inventory Audits: Accompanied account stakeholders on Walmart inventory audits and in-store inspections, including reviews at five New Jersey locations and the flagship 'Store of the Future' in Secaucus.
Colorist
Bonobos
03.2022 - 01.2023
- Acted as full support to 7 Designers, 3 Production Managers, and 6 Production Assistants.
- Created custom palettes and maintained digital color libraries in BeProduct, aligned to brand direction.
- Designed and implemented a lab dip approval workflow that increased processing efficiency by 90%.
- Consulted with internal and external clients to ensure the color strategy met technical and creative objectives.
- Fabric Color Consistency: Managed all lab dips and strike-offs, ensuring fabric cohesion across programs, using the Wal-Mart Data Sync Tracker for tracking and approvals.
- Served as a color expert for 30+ programs, including outerwear, shirts, denim, trim, swimwear, golf, and accessories, while conducting detailed color evaluations, ensuring alignment with brand standards and seasonal trend direction.
- Client-Focused Solutions: Delivered custom color solutions to meet aggressive timelines for 14 external clients.
- Developed seasonal color codes and palettes for brand accounts such as Fielder and Bonobos.
Color and Product Development Manager
BCI Brands
05.2018 - 04.2020
- Promoted to direct color and product development from concept to launch, formulating specifications and prototypes, while ensuring timely execution across global vendors.
- Maintained seamless communication with suppliers in India, China, and Hong Kong, achieving a 98% on-time submission rate, and significantly minimizing production delays.
- Enhanced operational efficiency by 20% through the implementation of Six Sigma and Kanban methodologies, while conducting regular vendor audits to maintain precise records.
Lead Color Coordinator
BCI Brands
03.2015 - 05.2018
- Drove color development and project planning to ensure visual alignment with brand identity, while enhancing system processes and cross-functional efficiency.
- Color Strategy & Brand Alignment: Curated seasonal color palettes across various projects, ensuring consistency with brand identity and overall design vision.
- Color Management Systems: Managed master color charts for 9+ brands in the AS400 PLM system, establishing standardized color codes, and documentation processes.
- ERP System Implementation: Spearheaded the rollout of the RLM ERP system, providing training for new hires on data entry procedures, and ensuring consistent system usage across teams.
- Project Scoping & Planning: Partnered with design teams to align color direction with consumer trends and merchandising strategy.
Education
Associate of Applied Science - Fabric Styling
Fashion Institute of Technology
New YorkBachelor of Fine Arts - Textile Surface Design
Fashion Institute of Technology
New YorkSkills
- Business Acumen
- Concept-To-Launch
- Customer Focused-Solutions
- Vendor Management
- Market Research
- Product Lifecycle Management
- Quality Control Procedures
- Project Management
- Strategic Thinking
- Color Development
- Systems & Tools
- Cross-Functional Leadership
- Interpersonal Skills
- Munsell Farnsworth 100 Hue Test
- Product Roadmaps
Websites
Timeline
Senior Colorist
RDG Global
02.2025 - 06.2025
Product Approvals Manager
Garan Inc
08.2023 - 02.2024
Colorist
Bonobos
03.2022 - 01.2023
Color and Product Development Manager
BCI Brands
05.2018 - 04.2020
Lead Color Coordinator
BCI Brands
03.2015 - 05.2018
Associate of Applied Science - Fabric Styling
Fashion Institute of Technology
Bachelor of Fine Arts - Textile Surface Design
Fashion Institute of Technology