We love all of the amazing independent designers out there. In order to find out more about just what makes all of these creative types tick, we present to you an ongoing segment called Indie Designer Interviews.

Meet Angel D'Amico, a graphic designer and illustrator turned fashion inspiration. We love her bold hand screen-printed t-shirts, dresses and handbags. Each one is a totally wearable, totally affordable work of art!



Tell us a little about yourself and your work. I am a freelance designer and Illustrator, and started to dabble with screen printing about a year ago or so. I have been an artist my whole life, and have created so many random things from books to clothing, to jewelry, and more. I recently really dove in, invested, and am trying to concentrate on my clothing and accessories 50/50 with my freelancing career, and now that I have invested more, I can see my business is growing! It's exciting.

How did you get started as a designer? When I got out of college, I was looking for that 9-5 graphic design job, and couldn't really find the right place for me. So I started to freelance, where I could work with people from all over the world, who would come to me for my specific artwork, and style. Then I found Etsy, and saw a whole new world out there, I even started an indie online magazine featuring artists, musicians, diyers all over the world. (Which has now diminished, due to lack of time, which is a good thing for me.) Anyway I met some amazing people, in my online world, and researched how to start screen printing, at first I did it the old fashion way, until recently bought some equipment, to make my designs, just as good as my computer and hand drawn real designs.

Any advice you would give to aspiring designers? Don't give up, its hard, it takes a lot of work, trial and error, money, investing, but in the end if you are passionate, than it will be worth it. I'm still working on it!

What inspires your work? Nature, beauty, fashion, love, everyday, shadows, to a peep of sunlight shining through my window, to a beautifully colored flower, on a walk down the street.

What are your top fashion & beauty must-haves? I love handbags! I am blessed to have had a handbag buyer in my family... Oh my, I have a big SHOE collection. Big sunglasses, and honestly leggings still go with everything, and are just so much more comfortable and cool in the summer. Sugar scrubs, and pedicures.

Where can people find your work? On my website, and my online shop, blogs, myspace, flickr, etc etc. you can google my name: Angel D'Amico and you will find some interesting sites I've been on.

Anything else? Enjoy life, live it to the fullest, even if it means you're busy all the time, make time for your loved ones, because time flies by. Also, take time for your self, take baths, watch sappy movies. Fall in love, take lots of pictures, go to music concerts and shows, and enjoy everything that the world, and cultures, and life has to offer.

Thank you to all my supporters out there! You are wonderful!