Aurora James

About Aurora James

Toronto-native and New York City-transplant, Aurora James is the Creative Director and Founder of luxury accessories brand Brother Vellies. Founded in 2013 with the goal of keeping traditional African design practices and techniques alive, while also creating and sustaining artisanal jobs, Brother Vellies is now handmade across the globe. Prior to founding Brother Vellies, James amassed an impressive resume of industry experience. Her background in fashion, journalism, art, photography, and horticulture joins a forever-passion for artisanship, design, and humanitarianism to create truly one-of-a-kind pieces you will have in your wardrobe forever.Brother Vellies is worn regularly by dedicated followers including Beyonce, Meghan Markle, Zendaya, Rihanna, Serena Williams, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Chrissy Teigen and Solange.In June 2020, Aurora founded The Fifteen Percent Pledge, an initiative that urges retail giants to commit 15% of their shelf space to Black-owned businesses by creating clear business strategies and attainable goals. The Fifteen Percent Pledge has since been featured on Forbes, Fast Company, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, CNN, and Vogue. Within the first year, over 2 dozen major corporations contractually committed to The Fifteen Percent Pledge, effectively diverting over $12B in capital to Black entrepreneurs in the United States.In May of 2023, Aurora released her critically acclaimed memoir, Wildflower, which became an instant best-seller.

Experience

1. Creative Director & Founder

   Brother Vellies

   Jan 2013 — Present · Brooklyn, NY, US

   Brooklyn-based Aurora James maintains the spirit of Africa with traditional footwear handcrafted in village workshops. Each pair is assembled from sustainable resources using heritage techniques perfected over generations. Horsehair fringe, plush furs, and carved bones beautifully embellish the desert styles.\"​ -Moda OperandiWinner of the 2015 CFDA/VOGUE Fashion Fund.Winner of VOGUE Italia\'s Who Is On NextRecipient of FN\'s Emerging Footwear Designer of the Year AwardFinalist for the CFDA/Lexus Eco Fashion InitiativeNominee for the CFDA Swarovski Designer Award 2017Nominee for the CFDA Accessory Design Award 2018WWD\'s \'Ten Of Tomorrow\' 2016Time Magazine\'s \'34 Optimists of 2019\'Crain\'s New York \'40 Under 40\' 2019 Recipient of Planned Parenthood\'s Reproductive Health Award at the Congressional Black Caucus in 2019.

Skills

• Fashion Illustration
• Apparel
• Advertising
• Styling
• Event Planning
• Photo Shoot Production
• Photo Shoots
• Fashion
• Fashion Writing
• Strategic Partnerships
• Editorial
• Draping
• Fashion Design
• Indesign
• Creative Direction
• Public Relations
• Model Casting
• Brand Development
• Blogging
• Trend Forecasting
• Fashion Shows
• Editorial Consulting
• Curating
• Integrated Brand Marketing