We recently connected with Angela Thomas and have shared our conversation below.

Angela , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

I first realized I wanted to pursue Fashion Design when I was 14 years old. I was a pre-professional ballet dancer my whole life, and had dedicated much of it to the art even from a young age, but eventually made the difficult decision to step away from it. The demands of the industry were becoming too heavy to juggle even for a young girl, and I found myself feeling lost, without a plan, and confused as to what I should do next after committing my entire life to it. I had always been drawn to the arts, whether it was sculpting, painting, writing stories, or most of all, drawing. I loved working with colors and shapes, and I craved a way to continue expressing my creativity. After leaving ballet, my heart felt heavy, and I desperately needed a new outlet. It was around that time that my sister-in-law, who had been working at a popular fashion company in Los Angeles for over a decade, inspired me. Seeing her beautiful designs and the way people loved them opened my eyes to the power of fashion and art. I loved the idea of creating something that someone else could wear to express themselves, it felt deeply personal and incredibly beautiful. After speaking to my sister-in-law, I started researching the fashion industry, and soaking up everything I could. I even enrolled in an early college program for fashion design through the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, which only made my growing passion deeper. Fashion became my new art form and a way to translate the ideas and emotions inside of me into something meaningful. I knew then that I had found the career I wanted to pursue.

Angela , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My journey that really launched me into fashion began in high school, when I joined an entrepreneurship program with my school and launched my brand The Inside Out Apparel, where I designed clothes with positive affirmations on the inside lining to reinforce positive thinking patterns. What started as a passion project quickly grew into something much bigger. After high school, I moved to Indiana University Bloomington to study fashion design and further my experiences in the industry. Since then, I’ve had the incredible opportunity to be part of the annual Fashion Show here in Bloomington for the fashion design majors by modeling and helping behind the scenes before it’s my turn next year to have my own collection. Being exposed to such new ideas and approaches to fashion has opened my eyes to just how rich and interconnected the world of art and fashion truly is. I’ve learned that art, at its core, is about connection and connecting ideas, people, and stories like these designers did through their collections.
The belief that connection and community are essential is something I try my very best to weave into every piece I create. Fashion today often feels impersonal, with trends dictating everything and originality being pushed aside. I want to be a designer who brings authenticity and connection back into the heart of fashion. Whether it’s through my brand The Inside Out Apparel or my personal sewing projects, my goal is always to add a personal, meaningful touch to my work.
The Inside Out Apparel is built around the idea of turning positive thoughts “inside out” and creating pieces that promote positivity, and spreading joy through each product. Every design I make aims to help someone in one way or another. It’s not about fashion trends, but about the person wearing it, where it came from, and the journey it represents. I believe every piece of clothing should be treated like a work of art, something unique and timeless, not just another disposable trend.
One of the things I’m most proud of is staying true to my vision even when faced with criticism or pressure to change. I never want to make my designs “crazier” just to fit into someone else’s standard of what fashion should be. I find beauty in simplicity and originality and try my best to create pieces that tell stories without needing to shout for attention.
At the end of the day, it’s about doing meaningful work, creating art that speaks to people, and reminding others to slow down and appreciate the little things. In a world that’s always chasing the next big thing, I want my work to serve as a reminder of the value found in authenticity, creativity, and connection with one another.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

A big part of my creative journey is driven by the dream of becoming financially stable enough to give back to my family, especially to give my parents the option to retire and to support my siblings in return for all they have given me. As the youngest of nine children, I’ve been blessed with endless love, experiences, and opportunities because of them, and I want my work to be a way of honoring that. Without them, I would not be as driven as I am, nor would I have had access to the experiences and blessings that have shaped me. Family is the most important thing to me in my life, and I hope to build a career that stays true to those values of love, family, and giving back.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

Something hard I had to learn was not getting attached to things or ideas whether in art or life, too quickly, because life happens and things are always changing. I’ll never forget my older sister telling me that the two constants in life are time and change, and you have to be okay with things not going your way all the time. A lot changed during my first year at IU. My business slowed down, and I had to take a hiatus from selling. A lot of things in my personal life shifted too, leaving me feeling lost and unlike myself for a year. I had to learn to rebuild my foundation, relaunch my company, and figure out who I was, just Angela, without the titles or expectations. Without that change and struggle, I wouldn’t be the person I am today. I’m grateful for the suffering because it turned into something beautiful and more valuable than not feeling at all. As The Lumineers once said, “It’s better to feel pain than nothing at all.” I had never experienced such a sharp shift in my life until that point, but it made me realize that to be better at anything, you have to be vulnerable. That year of change showed me that change can be beautiful and it reignited my creativity.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.theinsideoutapparel.co/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theinsideoutapparel/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61566718749845
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angela-thomas-570b53249/
• Other: Other instagram accounts:
  angelarose.t -artistic account
  angela.maryrose – main account
  theinsideoutapparel – business account

Image Credits

Maizy Swanson