We were lucky to catch up with Lorelei Acuna recently and have shared our conversation below.

Lorelei, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you recount a story of an unexpected problem you’ve faced along the way?

As a creative, it isn’t always easy to find jobs doing what you love. I’ve learned that in addition to making clothes, or recording songs–i need enough resources to keep it all going. I want to pay my team, and sometimes that doesn’t leave much for me. I realized there’s a lot of people that want to use your creativity without really paying for it…for me, followers or whatever else they’re offering isn’t enough. We should be paid for our time! Just like any other skills.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m Lorelei Acuña, a latina-american born in Houston, Texas. As a kid, I always made these crazy long videos with my friends, and I’d record comedy skits of my older sister, Anacarina. Sometimes I’d write scripts, but most of the time it was all improv!
When I made it to high school, I found it difficult relating to other people in The Woodlands, Texas (common suburbia). I dressed differently, I was a theater kid, and I loved traveling and painting. I didn’t see the world like everyone else–I felt there was so much more to life than the boring school days.
One day during my freshman year, I discovered the High-school for Performing and Visual Arts in Houston. I immediately created a portfolio and auditioned to get in within a few days before the deadline.
I GOT IN.
So my high school life, I’ve come to learn, was far from ordinary. I spent half my school day being creative. Whether that was sewing costumes, designing clothes, building sets for shows, or lighting a stage. I learned that being a creative was hard work, and I’d spend hours after school in rehearsals. Everyone dressed like we lived in the 70s or 90s. I had a fun friend group I could relate to. I spent my teenage years walking around Montrose and being absorbed in the art at MFAH, the CAM, and  the Menil Collection.
I now have a BFA from California Institute of the Arts. I spent a few years working on films and learning more and more about the moving image. I started recording music at different studios around Los Angeles. I continued shooting music videos for other artists, and was DP for a variety of small video projects and films. When videography in school and freelance started feeling like a job, I started making upcycled clothes to let my creativity flow. And thus, my brand, Lorelita Designs was born. I’ve made clothes for a few local celebrities, and started styling models for shoots in Houston and LA. I met a few producers, and started recording my own songs and dropping singles. Once again, as one thing became work, another became my creative outlet. As a well-rounded artist, it can be fun to blend all my different talents. After leaving LA, I returned to my hometown, Houston, where I worked at a studio as a Portrait Photographer for about a year. I also continued my personal endeavors as a music artist, and released my first music video–“CHROME”, shot at the renovated post office, The Post. 
Now in Tulsa, Oklahoma, I continue selling upcycled clothes as a way to provide slow-fashion that is good for the planet, and as unique as the people wearing it. In addition to clothes, I sell my art and other quirky things. I’m a freelance videographer and photographer, and I love capturing the beauty within. 

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

As kids, teenagers, and young adults, we are surrounded by people every day at school. You get used to this support, and a sense of community. You learn to accept awards for your work, or a pat on the back for every little thing you do. THIS is something that isn’t an every-day thing in the “Real World”. I had to unlearn the idea of doing projects FOR somebody, because once you run your own clothing brand, or are a freelancer, or an artist, the only person cheering you on and motivating you is YOURSELF. Sure, you will have clients to please. But the overall “WHY?” you do what you do, comes from within. You are your best support system, everyone else is just an added blessing.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

To support artists in this society, we need to utilize the talents of the people we know. We’re all guilty of buying art or clothes from big monopolies.. maybe we should also buy art from our friend, or coworker. Maybe we should share the music our cousin or friend makes because hey, it’s really good! We live in a world where everyone likes what is trendy and are scared to support the people they love for a fear of failure. But it is your business, your word, your support, that makes someone into a celebrity, or can make a well-deserved business boom!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Lorelita.com
• Instagram: @loreleiacuna @lorelitadesigns @studiostarstruck
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/lorelei-acuna

Image Credits

for the 2 photos with my fashion and sewing machine in front of white wall credit photographer : Jaya Smalley
for the two models wearing upcycled fashion credit photographer : Henry Clark, Models: Livia June and Nilo Rellie