Cynthia Roney

Senior Apparel Designer, Golf Apparel for Men & Women

As a Senior Designer here, I elevated the design aesthetic for men's and boys' collections. Collaborating on private label collections with major retailers like Target, Costco, and Macy's, I enriched product offerings by introducing fresh prints and dynamic color stories. My keen eye for design improvement and problem-solving allowed me to fine-tune existing processes, implement enhancements in design elements, and contribute to the overall refinement of established product lines.

Central to my contributions was the generation of buy-in for a visually cohesive representation, catalyzing a positive impact on sales through creative assertiveness. Ensuring design direction aligned with market trends and customer preferences, I fostered continuous improvement in our design approach.

One notable success was spearheading the completion of a unique project with Target, introducing hand-drawn, illustrated packaging for underwear. This innovative approach achieved a 25% sell-through rate, capturing customer attention and positioning the product as a resounding success. In the fast-paced world of evolving packaging design for major retailers, I consistently met the demand for new designs.

I gained a competitive edge in understanding global trends, leveraging this knowledge to position the company's designs ahead of market expectations and garnering a favorable response from major retailers, by attending international shows. Over my five-year tenure, I maintained strong relationships with key accounts, ensuring customer satisfaction.

My focus on cost-effective design decisions, considering factors such as production expenses and material costs, contributed to the overall success of the company. I also managed deadlines efficiently by leveraging the company's integrated printing, knitting, and weaving facilities in China, ensuring a seamless and timely production process. My commitment to excellence and innovation positioned me as a valuable asset.

As a Design Manager here, I assumed a pivotal role in transforming the women’s product line, expanding its presence from struggling to securing placements in major retailers such as Macy's. Handpicked by the creative director, I co-directed the design and production process, breaking away from the traditional denim-focused portfolio and managing a diverse range of apparel, including sweaters, outerwear, tops, bottoms, dresses, and jackets.

Central to my contributions was steering the growth of the women's product line, introducing new offerings in collaboration with the creative director. I successfully managed the development cycle, ensuring seamless execution of design concepts from fittings to tech pack creation, collaborating with the Montreal office for production. This resulted in the production of 200+ SKUs per season for four seasons, meeting high-volume production demands while maintaining a balance between creativity and efficiency.

A key aspect of my role involved the expansion of the design team from a duo to a robust team of eight, comprised of associate designers, technical designers, and graphic artists. Effectively delegating tasks and fostering collaboration, I played a pivotal role in maintaining a cohesive team dynamic.

Leveraging a keen eye for vintage and local shopping, I gathered inspiration for designs, contributing to the creation of unique and marketable apparel. This played a key role in the company's ability to offer diverse and trend-setting products. Recognizing resource gaps, I implemented strategic changes to alleviate pressure on the core design team, allowing for efficient task delegation. To enhance communication with licensees, I prepared a PowerPoint presentation showcasing the design process and created a catalog using Adobe InDesign.

Additionally, I played a role in elevating team performance and accelerating ramp-up time by mentoring team members, contributing to a culture of growth and excellence within the design team.

During my time as a Senior Apparel Designer at JNCO Jeans, I assumed a leadership role in shaping the creative vision for a broad spectrum of children's lines, spanning infants, toddlers, tweens, and teens. I played a key role in the establishment of a new kids' division, successfully translating the existing young men's line into a cohesive and well-received collection tailored for boys and girls.

One of my significant achievements was the successful launch of new product lines strategically tailored for the mid-range market. These lines garnered attention from prominent retailers such as Mervyn’s, JCPenney, Sears, and Target. My focus on designing and developing sportswear separates and coordinates, including graphic tees, woven shirts, denim bottoms, woven bottoms, and swimwear, showcased my versatility in creating diverse and commercially viable collections.

Adapting to industry shifts, I spearheaded the transition from in-house production to overseas development. Utilizing tools like Illustrator and Photoshop, I meticulously created tech packs for production abroad. These packs included detailed sheets, specifications, Bill of Materials (BOMs), graphics, and art files, ensuring a smooth and efficient production process.

The impact of my efforts was evident in the market acceptance and demand for the newly introduced collection, as reflected in an impressive sell-through rate of ~25% at launch. This success underscored the resonance of my designs in the market, reinforcing my reputation as a Senior Apparel Designer with a keen understanding of market trends and consumer preferences.

As the Lead Designer here, I assumed a key role in shaping the creative direction for infant and toddler categories. My responsibilities extended beyond design ideation, as I consistently crafted and presented seasonal designs that attracted our target audience. Serving as the driving force behind private label design and development initiatives for major retailers such as Target and Mervyn’s, I delivered tailored solutions that seamlessly blended creativity with technical precision.

I conceptualized and sketched designs and collaborated closely with in-house patternmakers, sewers, and screen printers. Additionally, I managed external partnerships for embroideries, wash processes, and dye treatments, ensuring a cohesive and high-quality product offering. My commitment to excellence extended to overseeing the development of fabrications, prints, embroideries, and screen prints, creating a harmonious blend of artistic vision and technical expertise.

My role also encompassed designing for the kids' division, where I curated a diverse portfolio including dresses, sportswear, graphic T-shirts, and coordinated sets. I brought unique expertise in infant and toddler fashion, effectively filling a crucial gap in the design team and significantly contributing to the overall success of the company's product offerings.

As a Merchandising Associate Designer, my role was to create and coordinate sportswear separates for newborns, infants, toddlers, and girls from sizes 4-14.
Responsible for designing and developing the 'Love, Hugs & Kisses' line exclusively for Nordstroms, Bloomingdale's, and Macy's, as well as the 'L.A. Baby' line exclusively for Mervyn's. Additionally, I work on the Girls Infant - 7-14 Sportswear line exclusively for Mervyn's.