I’m not really into the idea of charity for Africa anymore, it’s more about creating employment opportunities.” “The people that I know would prefer to be empowered versus pitied. “I was raised in a household where we were taught to empower each other,” James told the Observer. Establishing rainwater purification systems and tanneries of her own, James remains transparent in her ethical manufacturing practices.Ĭonscious in her decision to avoid the one-for-one motto that has come to define philanthropic endeavors, the Toronto born designer was adamant against charity as a method to combat the struggles in Africa. This conviction to local artisans and quest to bring traditional African skills to contemporary fashion has remained paramount to James since the inception of her company. The founder partnered with the United Nations Ethical Fashion Initiative to raise money to bring Italian shoemakers to the underprivileged nation to teach her extensive group of artisans how to craft the perfect heel. Frequently working throughout South Africa, Morocco and Kenya, James returned to one of her sites in Ethiopia to develop a high heel for her line. Even more recently, James has made her first foray out of Africa-she’s partnered with a group of weave makers in Haiti for her new handbag collection. James explores Haiti as she expands her work beyond Africa.īrother Vellies produces all of its shoes with local artists across Africa and has recently expanded its manufacturing practices to collaborate with artisans in Namibia and Mali. Since then, she’s won oodles of awards including the coveted CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund award in 2015 and as of recent, has joined the CFDA as a member herself. In less than four years, she’s expanded to clogs, sandals and handbags. She started Brother Veilles in January 2013 with a line of desert boots. Touching upon her personal vision of sustainability, James has made an explicit and concerted effort-like she does with all of her designs-to be inclusive, empowering and ethical in her production. ![]() It was at the Andaz Hotel 5 th Avenue, where James stole the show, with both her personality and her clear sustainable practices. ![]() The 17-month-long residency based program has reached its halfway point and with a decided winner set to be announced in April 2017, the fashion authority sponsored an event for its designers to reflect on their innovative growth thus far. ![]() The event hosted 10 design brands as part of the Council of Fashion Designers of America’s sustainability program, which encourages designers to “create meaningful change within American fashion” through intensive workshops and impactful changes to their own brands. James ruminated on the expansion of her self-described “insular” company at the joint CFDA + Lexus Fashion Initiative event held yesterday. The decision to undertake the “suppressive” nature of women’s high heels was no easy feat for the Brooklyn-based designer, who heavily considered her mother’s teachings when working to craft her new line of shoes for her Spring/Summer ’16 line. But now, with an rather successful brand to her name, Brother Vellies is expanding this African crafted shoewear line to include that very high heel silhouette.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |