Brother Vellies is a Black-owned, female-led luxury accessories brand founded in 2013 by designer Aurora James. The brand makes shoes, boots, sandals, bags and socks, handcrafted by artisans around the world, from Nairobi and South Africa to Morocco and New York. Signature pieces include its vellies, a desert boot style rooted in southern Africa, along with statement heels such as the Togo, made with textured woven fabric and an intricate knot detail.
James, a Canadian-born designer who built the brand in Brooklyn, started Brother Vellies to help keep traditional African design practices alive and to create artisan jobs. She is also the founder of the Fifteen Percent Pledge, which asks major retailers to commit shelf space to Black-owned brands. The brand focuses on sustainability, craftsmanship and community.
The Greenpoint, Brooklyn storefront has closed, so Brother Vellies now sells online at brothervellies.com and through select retailers, shipping across the United States and to many other countries. Shop the collection and shop Black today.
Brother Vellies