Redesigning the Rules: Building Capsule Wardrobes with Purpose with Telicia Bunch, Lorrel
How One Founder Is Redefining the Rules of Getting Dressed
When Telicia Bunch launched her capsule fashion brand Lorrel, she wasn’t just designing clothes. She was rewriting the script for what a modern wardrobe could be. After more than 25 years behind the scenes in the fashion industry, Telicia had seen the industry’s true coston workers, on the planet, and on our own relationship with clothing. But instead of walking away, she built something new. Something more intentional. Something that started with legacy.
On this episode of The Wild Party Podcast, host Stefanie LaHart sits down with the industry insider turned fashion reformer to talk about the systems behind fast fashion, the inspiration behind her Build Upon Wardrobing concept, and why she believes real change starts in our closets.
A Grandmother’s Closet and the Birth of a Movement
Long before she was a designer, Telicia was a little girl playing dress-up in her grandmother’s house. Her grandmother, Lorrel, worked her way up from a bathroom attendant to a homeowner by offering fashion advice and presenting herself with grace, even when money was tight.
“She always looked great,” Telicia recalls. “She would mix and match pieces because she couldn’t afford to buy new clothes. That was her superpower.”
That legacy didn’t just inspire the brand’s name. It laid the foundation for a completely new approach to dressing—one that values fewer, better pieces that can adapt across seasons and styles.
Behind the Seams of a Broken Industry
As a technical designer, Telicia spent years translating fashion sketches into real garments. But it was what she saw on the production floor that left a lasting impression.
“In China especially, they’re living in dormitory-style housing, getting paid very little, and only seeing their families once a year,” she says. “That didn’t sit right with me.”
She also witnessed the environmental toll of the industry. The endless rounds of samples, the overproduction to meet pricing minimums, and the inevitable markdowns that turned unsold inventory into waste. All of it added up to a system that prioritized profit over peopleand filled landfills in the process.
“It’s not just what we see on the racks,” she explains. “It’s what happens before the clothes even get there. So much waste is baked into the process.”
The Power of Build Upon Wardrobing
When the pandemic forced her to slow down, Telicia finally had the space to build the brand she’d been envisioning for years. Lorrel was born during that pause, guided by her desire to create clothing that worked harder, lasted longer, and looked beautiful on all kinds of bodies.
Her Build Upon Wardrobing system is at the heart of the collection. Every piece is designed to layer, reverse, and pair with others, creating endless outfit options from a tightly edited set of garments.
“There’s always going to be a piece in the collection that can be worn front to back to create two looks in one,” she says. “Everything is designed to be dressed up, dressed down, and worn across seasons.”
The garments are produced locally in Los Angeles, using thoughtful fabrics and a minimalist palette that complements what you already own.
The Hard Reality of Sustainable Sourcing
While the fashion industry loves to throw around words like “eco-friendly,” Telicia is honest about the real barriers to sustainability, especially for small brands.
“A lot of mills just aren’t stocking sustainable fabric anymore,” she says. “It becomes a choice between using what’s already available or producing something new that won’t hold up. And that’s not a real solution.”
For Telicia, it’s about choosing the least harmful option, making sure garments last, and avoiding the kind of overproduction that creates excess in the first place.
“It’s not perfect, but it’s intentional,” she says.
Creating a New Kind of Fashion Community
Lorrel is more than a clothing brand. It’s a platform for collaboration, education, and community. After becoming a semifinalist in Pharrell Williams’ Black Ambition Prize, Telicia connected with other Black women founders to share resources and cross-promote each other’s businesses.
“When one of us wins, we all win,” she says.
She also began learning the ins and outs of DIY PR, pitching her story to press and podcasts, and showing up as the face of her brand something that didn’t always come naturally.
“You think you’ll post on Instagram and the sales will roll in,” she laughs. “That’s not how it works. You have to build trust and tell your story.”
And her story is one worth hearing.
Wear Less, Mean More
In a world full of fast fashion, Lorrel is a reminder that clothing should be personal, ethical, and lasting. Each piece reflects Telicia’s years of industry knowledge, her grandmother’s influence, and her commitment to slowing down in a world that keeps speeding up.
“We’ve been taught that every event means a new outfit,” she says. “But that mindset is destroying the planet. I want to bring us back to a place where clothing is treasured and made to last.”
🎧 Listen to the full episode of The Wild Party Podcast to hear how Telicia is transforming fashion from the inside out.
🛍️ Visit lorrel.com and use code WILDPARTY25 to save 25% on your first order.
