AURORA JAMES ON OWNERSHIP, SUPPORT AND CAPITAL

“I think we can get quite literal here. I think there are only two or three Black-owned businesses in the CFDA (including Brother Vellies). And this isn’t the fault of the CFDA by any means. It’s the clear indicator of how hard it is to break into fashion and then how much capital is required to grow a business and how hard it is for people of color to raise capital.

I would love to see more ownership, more support and more capital. (I also think we need to get rid of terms like ‘urban’ it’s a diminutive phrase.)

I would love to see grant programs set up for people of color that can help support summer internships. A lot of people never even apply because the concept of living in New York over the summer and working for free or very little is just totally out of the scope of reality. That’s a main entry point for people in fashion and at the same time ends up becoming a barrier to entry.

Additionally, people should think about culture and people of color when they’re working on projects. If a stylist is dressing their client for a film premieres whose narratives center on people of color, it might make sense to pull in a designer who’s black for wardrobe. If you’re shooting a black woman for a feature, consider hiring a black female photographer or glam team. There are many opportunities for inclusion. I find that the more inclusive a project is the richer the final tapestry feels.”

—Aurora James, Founder of Brother Vellies