Toronto native and New York transplant Aurora James founded BROTHER VELLIES with two specific goals: to introduce her favorite traditional African footwear to the rest of the world, and to create and sustain artisanal jobs in Africa.

Handmade in South Africa, Kenya, Ethiopia and Morocco, Brother Vellies shoes maintain the spirit and durability of their ancestral counterparts.

All of the BROTHER VELLIES workshops in Kenya are open spaces that welcome artisans of all genders, sexual orientation, backgrounds, and tribes. A winner of the 2015 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund and part of the 2016-2018 CFDA {Fashion Incubator}, James now finds herself traveling to and throughout Africa regularly to work with the local artisans, experience the diverse culture of the continent, and unearth new inspirations for the brand.

Aurora James has been a CFDA Member since 2016.