Briefly describe your job.
I am the founder/owner of my own fashion line, “Heels with Wheels”. I design clothes for women with and without disabilities. We are dedicated to our clients that have special needs and custom make fashionable clothing for those that need it. We show women's ABILITY not their disability.

How long have you been working in this field?
The idea started February 2009 and we officially started selling in 2010.

When and how did you decide to choose this career?
I chose to start my own fashion line because I have been paralyzed for 14 years and adaptive clothing for people with disabilities was not so fashionable. I talked to fellow spinal cord injury women that had the same complaints, so I decided to do something about it.

What education/training did you obtain to qualify you for your field?
I actually took college courses for creative writing, which led me to start writing for an online fashion magazine. I climbed up the ladder and eventually was promoted to Vice President of the magazine. At the time I didn't know that I would be starting my own fashion line in the near future, but all this experience helped me when I decided to start my own fashion line.

I am interested in knowing about your artistic interests and skills. You must have a good eye, if not an artistry for what you do. Can you give me a feeling for how you create such beautiful things that are also attractive to others? Is it more of an innate ability? Did you always have an interest in fashion or art of some kind?
Honestly, I was not interested in fashion at all prior to my car accident which left me a quadriplegic. I actually did not like shopping at all. However, I always loved drawing and painting and of course music is still a passion of mine. When I go to the fabric stores - that is when the artistic side of me comes out. My co-designer, Antonio Wingfield, will do the sketches and then we will go to the fabric store and that is when I start envisioning things. For me that is when the sketches come to life! I'm the type of girl that sees what she likes, buys it, and then goes home. I do the same thing when I'm in the fabric stores, it's almost like the fabric reaches out to me, it catches my eye and I can just see it.

What was your first job in the field?
My first job in the field with my fashion line was hiring a co-designer by researching and finding someone who shared and valued the same vision as I did.

Describe a typical day on the job?
A typical day on the job involves a lot of networking on the computer and making contacts on social networks. Getting the clothing line out there by word of mouth is very important when first starting out. I answer a lot of e-mails on a daily basis!

How do you find that the internet helps you with your public relations efforts?
Could you be as effective without it? Public relations is huge when it comes to starting your own business, especially when you are targeting a large group of individuals, and not just in your local area. I use the Internet to help find other people who work with women with disabilities and connect with them via Facebook, Myspace, Twitter. I also read a lot of blogs that have to do with fashion.

I don't think that I would have been able to reach as many disabled people without the Internet, that is for sure. Having the confidence to reach out and tell people what you are about and having the resources to back up your business or whatever you are promoting is very critical for PR work. People don't like to read a lot of information. They like short and sweet - to the point. And then if they are interested they will contact you.

What do you like most about what you do?
I love going to the fabric stores, looking at all the new fabrics and brainstorming what those fabrics could be turned into. I also love hearing success stories about how the fashion line has helped others, not just by wearing a piece of clothing but by inspiring others that thought their life was over due to their disability. People see that life walking or rolling is not always perfect but it is definitely not over, by any means.

What do you like least about your job?
Deadlines! I try not to set too many deadlines but it is important to have them to make sure you stay on top of things.

What has been the most rewarding experience so far in your career?
Most recently, being interviewed by Kim Fischer about my clothing line and receiving so many e-mails from people that want to help out or just send a nice message of "keep up the good work". Kim Fischer is a local journalist that works with NBC who wanted to do a story on me and my fashion line. I thought it would only be broadcast in the Dallas area but it has been broadcasted all over!

What is the biggest challenge for you in this job?
Learning that not everybody is going to like "you" or the clothing line. I'm slowly learning that I have to do what is best for my company and I cannot please everyone. I have developed a thick skin.

What are the most important personal and professional skills necessary to succeed in your field?
Overcoming your personal fears of failure is very important, especially when dealing with the public. Not everybody is going to like what you put out there. Professionally, having some type of background with the fashion industry, whether it is writing, modeling, design school etc. is important. Learning the “ins and outs” and most importantly Public Relations work!

What could someone do to learn more about this field right now?
Interning for a fashion designer would be the best suggestion.

What advice you would offer to students making a career choice or on work life itself?
Do something you absolutely love! If you choose a career because it is making someone else happy besides yourself then you will not put 110% into your work. In order to feel like you are making accomplishments you need to make sure that you are doing what YOU want to do, not what others expect of you. I always ask myself this question "is this making me happy or someone else?" And if the answer is "no this is not making me happy", then I know I am not doing the right job or the job right. Don't let setbacks hold you back, learn from them and apply those lessons learned to the future.

Visit Angela’s website and view her beautiful, unique creations! www.heelswithwheels.com