Friendly Fangz: Turning Fear into Fascination
When you walk into Loriel Lester’s Los Angeles home, you might first notice the plants, the sunlight streaming in, or the soft hum of life around you. Then, if you look a little closer, you’ll see the real stars of the space: hundreds of tiny, curious faces peering out from glass enclosures. These are her jumping spiders, and to Loriel, they’re family.
“I got into spider breeding when I got into photography,” she said. “There was a spider in the backyard, a jumping spider, that I took pictures of for four days, and then it just disappeared. I was so sad because it was gone. So I started doing research on them and found a lady on Facebook who sold spiders. I bought some from her, and it just went uphill from there.”
What started as a creative curiosity has grown into Friendly Fangz, Loriel’s small business and educational platform that breeds, sells, and teaches people about jumping spiders. She’s part breeder, part educator, and part advocate for some of nature’s most misunderstood creatures.
For Loriel, the goal is simple: to replace fear with understanding. “I was deathly afraid of spiders,” she admitted. “I remember seeing one in my room and not sleeping in there for a week. But once I learned more about them, I realized they’re more scared of you than you are of them.”
Now, she teaches others, especially children, that spiders aren’t something to fear. “Most people are scared of spiders because that’s what their parents told them to do,” she explained. “It’s a fear that’s passed down. But when you get a child early and show them that it’s not harmful, it’s actually nice, they learn to respect it instead of being afraid.”
Jumping spiders, in particular, are easy to fall in love with. Unlike web-building spiders, they are active hunters, relying on sharp eyesight and clever strategy. “They don’t build webs to catch their prey,” Loriel said. “They build a little hammock that they sleep in at night, but during the day, they’re out exploring, sunbathing, and hunting. They actually plan out their next move.”
Each spider has its own personality. “They really do develop a bond with you,” she said, smiling. “Once they get used to you, you’re going to have a hard time putting them back in their enclosure because they’ll want to stay with you.” She laughs as she describes how males tend to have more outgoing personalities, while females are often shy and reserved.
Her work with Friendly Fangz goes beyond breeding. Loriel is building toward a nonprofit focused on education, hosting events, afterschool programs, and sensory-friendly learning spaces where children, especially those with autism or ADHD, can safely learn about animals like spiders, snakes, and other often-feared creatures. “I want to help prevent the next generation of arachnophobia,” she said.
Her favorite story comes from a day at the park with her daughter. “We were looking for jumping spiders when a little girl came up to us. She said her parents would never let her have one because they always kill spiders. She wanted one so badly. That moment stuck with me. I want to reach kids like her and show them that spiders aren’t scary, they’re important.”
That message carries through everything Loriel does. From the way she designs her spiders’ enclosures, each one carefully planned and built by hand, to the way she talks about them with affection and pride.
“I make waves by changing people’s perspective on what they view as scary,” she said. “Because sometimes, friends have fangs.”
You can find more about Loriel and her work at Friendly Fangz or on Instagram @friendlyfangz. Mention that you found her through the Making Waves Project to receive 15% off your purchase.
This story was created by Making Waves Project as part of 13 Days of Strange, our series spotlighting the beautifully unusual people and projects shaping culture in ways big and small. By sharing these stories, we aim to honor the creativity, resilience, and vision behind the work and amplify voices that thrive in the strange, the bold, and the unforgettable.
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Photography by Robiee Ziegler
Produced by Katie Caro
Post production by Kelly Budish
