Aurora James, the creative director of Brother Vellies is as passionate about the impact of her brand as she is about its designs. Her shoe line expanded into purses and clothing with the launch of its Spring 2016 collection and it's no wonder that the brand is attracting major attention. In addition to garnering support from industry anchors such as Vogue and the CDFA, the brand earned the indelible gold star of attracting music/design mogul Kanye West to peruse its presentation.
In addition to intricate beadwork and fur and feather accoutrements, conscientiousness is woven into the fabric of Brother Vellies' products. When asked about choosing sustainable processes, James notes that using leather from an animal that's already eaten is an obvious preference to any alternative. With regard to charity, she notes that her focus is on empowerment through long term job creation rather than brief or intermittent brand collaborations as those may place artisans in worse predicaments than if they had never worked. The brand's items are hand made in Kenya, Namibia and South Africa. James has also mentioned that she is careful to incorporate design methods that are already in use in the regions in which she produces because this results in a more natural design process. The result of her careful development is a brand whose products embody luxury; creating value and cultural appreciation for both the consumer and the producer.
Brother Vellies shoes were also featured in the Ryan Roche presentation below:
What do you think of Brother Vellies?
All photos courtesy of Instagram.