“Everyone has something in them that they're supposed to do. They just have to find it.” Those words—spoken by clothing designer, Cindy Bapst—are so much more than words to her. Indeed, Cindy really believes that we all have a destiny of sorts and that it's up to each of us to seek out and fulfill our dreams.

Cindy has certainly done just that. Today, she's the founder and owner of Union of Angels, a women’s clothing line that epitomizes bohemian chic with beautiful silhouettes and effortless style. But she wasn't always a designer, and even though her designs have been recently been courted by Warner Brothers and Bravo Network’s The Real Housewives of D.C., she still very humbly refers to herself as an “aspiring designer.”

Cindy graduated from the University of Maryland, and thereafter began her marketing career with DuPont Corian. After she and husband Randy married and started a family, Cindy gave up her professional pursuits to focus full-time on their family. The Bapsts have two boys, Brayden and Tristen, who are now eleven and ten years old, respectively. Cindy and her family lived in McLean, Virginia, for several years, but they now live on a beautiful estate in Delaplane, Virginia, in the heart of famous Piedmont hunt country. There, they “enjoy the peacefulness of the place” and take riding and polo lessons as a family. Cindy especially loves her community's unique combination of simplicity and sophistication.

Two years ago, Cindy decided to become a clothing designer. And as odd as that may sound, it's an exact representation of how Union of Angels began. Even though, Cindy always had a passion for fashion, two years ago, she simply decided to live that dream. And so what did she do? Well, she went to New York . . . to the garment district, specifically. For two days, she studied her surroundings, she researched the business of fashion design, and she asked many questions. After that first trip, she designed and produced two dresses. And she knew that she'd set off on the right path.

Today, she still travels often to New York's garment district and also to the Coterie there. She sketches, she makes patterns, she orders samples, and she follows through with grading and fit modeling. She produces a full line for each season, and in all respects, Cindy is indeed a fashion designer.

Union of Angel’s newest collection is equestrian-inspired, and Cindy is also negotiating a partnership with a New York City manufacturer to create a couture collection, Union of Angels 2. While Cindy was once a co-owner of Rich Hippie, a clothing boutique in Ashburn, she'd like to eventually open her own clothing store. Meanwhile, she plans to grow her line through her e-commerce site, www.UnionOfAngels.com.

Cindy is no doubt passionate about fashion and her commitment to design one great collection after another. But it doesn't stop there. Indeed, she's developing an Internet television show, Style in the City, which will be produced by Cindy's production company, Hunt Country Productions. And she is also very vigilant when it comes to maintaining balance between her professional pursuits and her personal commitments to her husband and boys.

Cindy exudes a remarkable amount of gratitude for what she's accomplished thus far. And while she's very committed to her own ambitions, she's likewise very true to the notion that she has an obligation to other women—to other mothers, in particular. She thinks that we should all remember that it's never “too late” to go after our dreams. In fact, according to Cindy, who is 43 years old, we should strive to be dynamic women at any age, and our age should never restrict the amount of dedication we give to our own goals and aspirations. Her advice is certainly sound and, as residents of the Washington, D.C. area, we have front row seats for Cindy’s show of success.

---

LEIGH MACDONALD is an attorney and former law professor, but nowadays, she's a freelance writer and Community Content Producer for WUSA9.com. She also doles out daily shoe and fashion advice at NiceShoesNoDrama.com. Leigh loves beautiful shoes, white chocolate, authentic smiles, and smart girlfriends. She lives in Leesburg, VA, with her husband and two children.