WNBA star Olivia Nelson-Ododa is adding fashion designer to her résumé, and her latest venture is making a case for looking just as good behind closed doors as you do when stepping outside. Enter Kayelise, a luxury loungewear label where silk, sensuality and self-expression meet a larger conversation about womanhood. Officially launching today, the brand’s debut Collection 001 introduces six pieces designed for the woman who appreciates the finer things in life, even when her only plans involve staying home.
Founded in 2024, Kayelise marks a new chapter for Nelson-Ododa, whose experience as a 6-foot-5 professional athlete has shaped her understanding of fashion, femininity and the importance of designing for different body proportions.
“As a 6’5” woman and professional athlete, I wanted to explore designing for different proportions without compromising comfort, femininity or personal style,” Nelson-Ododa tells EBONY. “Collection 001 reflects that approach through fluid silhouettes, longer inseams and details such as contrast stitching and delicate lace.”
Crafted entirely from 100% silk charmeuse, the collection features fluid silhouettes, lace-trimmed robes, ruffled shorts, camisoles and relaxed separates that blur the lines between sleepwear and ready-to-wear. A teal silk robe with delicate white lace cuffs brings a little drama to lounging, while navy trousers with contrast detailing and powder-blue separates offer versatility beyond the bedroom. Think elevated essentials that work just as well with your favorite jeans as they do during a night in.
But the collection’s most meaningful detail isn’t immediately obvious. Kayelise’s signature teal color honors gynecologic cancer awareness, reflecting Nelson-Ododa’s personal commitment to women’s reproductive health and bodily autonomy.
“Women’s reproductive health is deeply personal to me. Having witnessed the impact of reproductive health challenges within my own family, I want Kayelise to represent something beyond fashion,” she explains. “Our signature teal color honors gynecologic cancer awareness and the women whose experiences inspired the brand.”
For Nelson-Ododa, fashion offers an opportunity to bring visibility to conversations that women are often encouraged to keep private. It’s a mission that gives the collection a deeper purpose beyond its beautiful fabrics and sensual silhouettes.
Even the brand’s name carries a personal connection. “Kayelise is my middle name, a combination of my godmother’s and aunt’s middle names, so the brand has always carried a personal connection to the women in my life,” she shares. “It represents my own evolution as a woman and creative beyond basketball while honoring the amazing influence of the women in my family.”
As Nelson-Ododa enters her fashion designer era, she’s thinking beyond her first collection, with ambitions to build a lasting fashion house rooted in individuality and women’s health. With Kayelise, she’s proving that getting dressed isn’t always about being seen. Sometimes, it’s simply about feeling good in your own skin, preferably in silk.