Say hello to Heather!

As a family owned company, Western Chief employs many individuals who value a sense of family and community. In honor of some of the wonderful people who work hard to make what we do possible, we've decided to highlights some of them. Please take a moment to become acquainted with our children's designer, Heather Dady. In addition to her commitment to hard work and creativity, her sense of humor and fun are a great addition to our work atmosphere. Thank you, Heather!

How does being a mom influence the way you design?
Being a mom has totally changed the way I look at design. My creative process now starts with ‘how will this boot inspire fun?’ Each design has its own little personality to me now, and I try to focus on how the kids will react to the designs. Every print and every design need to be special and inspire creative thought and play.

I also realize now, how important fit and comfort are for kids (and especially parents!). Shoes have to be easy to get on and take off. Openings need to be wider to promote self-dressing. We use elastic and Velcro for most closures which is easier for a child to adjust by themselves.

Combining ‘comfort’, ‘cool’ and ‘creativity’ is the goal.

What is your son’s favorite Western Chief boot?
He wears his Batman boots constantly! He also loves his Shark boots that light up!

What are some of your favorite activities to do with your son?
We enjoy playing outside! His favorite right now is ‘Tag- Your’re It!’. Funny though, I am always ‘it’ and the one being chased. When it’s too cold to play outside, we like to paint, make funny masks and build forts.

What is one of your favorite boots you’ve designed? 
I am loving our new LED rain boots! They are so awesome! They have 11 different light settings… the boots are essentially a toy as well. So much fun!
I am also excited about our new Glitter boots. Feedback has been amazing and I think girls are going to LOVE them! I can’t wait to see those smiles when they hit stores this fall.