Established in 2004, Vindyco designer Cindy Vo has been designing since the tender age of 14. This precocious designer’s early creations were precursors to the flirty and daring designs she creates today for the modern and fearless girl.

Currently residing in San Francisco, Cindy Vo has contributed to countless fashion shows and will be presenting her bold and innovative collection on Saturday, August 25th at SF Fashion Week.

I recently had the pleasure of speaking with Cindy about her line, fashion, and other fun topics. Here is what she had to say:

What does your label name mean? How was it chosen?
Vindyco is my name backwards. It’s a nickname I had in middle school that just stuck.

How would you describe your clothes?
Fun, flirty, feminine.

Where do you grab your ideas from? What inspired you most when you create?
All my inspiration comes from music. When I design, I listen to my iPod and do a lot of draping to come up with my designs. I like to take the trends that occur and make them more of my own, unique style.

Who do you see wearing your clothes?
Definitely girls who like to stand out. Girl who are more daring in what they wear, more edgy, and like to make a statement with their clothing.

Favorite designer? Designers you love/would love to collaborate with? Mentors?
Alexander McQueen, Dolce & Gabbana, Anna Sui, Betsey Johnson, and Vivienne Westwood.

What’s your favorite piece that you’ve created to date?
The dress I wore to the W Hotel party. I just think it’s super cute.

What do you think the effect on fashion is of popular shows like Project Runway, What Not to Wear, etc.? Do you see these shows as a negative or positive?
I’m actually always getting asked if I’ll be joining Project Runway. These shows make fashion more mainstream, which is good because it allows people to know that it’s much harder than it looks.

Why choose San Francisco over more highly recognized cities in the fashion industry like New York or Los Angeles?
I think San Francisco is getting there. I came from Sacramento and grew up in the Bay. San Francisco is a sort of a stepping stone.

What direction would you like to see your line develop towards?
My goal is to own my own boutique with my clothing, headquartered in San Francisco. I’m a West Coast girl.

Advice you’d give people trying to break into the fashion industry.
It’s all about networking. Go out and try to meet all the people you can—huge, huge thing. Go to local fashion shows, and talk to designers and ask how they got involved.

Typical day in the life of Vindyco.
I’m a workaholic. Right now I’m working at Zara as a manager. I’m also a big homebody.

Favorite things to do when you’re not working.
Going out to eat. Food! Making big dinners, pigging out. I’m always on the Internet browsing Style.com and reading magazines.

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?
Somewhere in Europe.

If you weren’t designing, what would you be doing?
International business—something business related.

Book you’re reading right now, or last book you read.
The last book I read was “The Fashion Designers Survival Guide,” by Mary Gehlhar.

If you could have anyone’s wardrobe (dead or alive), whose would it be?
Carrie Bradshaw.

Favorite time of the day?
Night time. I get most of my creativity late at night.

Piece of clothing or jewelry you could not live without?
My Hello Kitty rhinestone necklace.

Best part about being a designer? Worst part about being a designer?
The best part is the fashion shows. It’s so fun, crazy, stressful, and chaotic, but it’s still worth it in the end. Getting to meet all these great people. It’s one huge party. The worst part is sewing everything.

What are you obsessing on these days?
Always shopping.

If you could choose between sleeping, eating, or being clean, which would you choose?
Eating.

Favorite holiday?
Christmas

Five pieces of clothing every girl should have in her wardrobe?
Great black dress.
Great pair of boots to go with everything.
Great trench coat.
Great pair of jeans.
Great pair of earrings.

Take away message for your line?
I want women to see my clothing as something they can wear; fashion-forward, not just stuff at Forever 21. I also want people to see me as a great designer and really like my clothing. I’d like women to think, “I want that dress. I really have to have that dress. I HAVE to have it!”

Where can we find your items?
Right now I’m getting commissioned to do designs through collaborations. You can drop by my website, and check out my stuff.