Desperation to freshen up the crib is at an all-time high amid shelter-in-place orders. Footwear and handbag boutique Brother Vellies is more than cognizant of our shifting needs and has thus shifted their offerings. The popular boutique usually sells artisanal footwear and purses but has now announced a monthly home goods program for an affordable price.
For around $35 a month, a subscription box program aptly named “Something Special," will deliver a curated something/somethings from the brand's online community of ethically sourced goods, according to Refinery29.
Brother Vellies was created with the goal of supporting South African, Kenyan and Moroccan craftspersons. Since its inception, Brother Vellies and founder Aurora James have become something of a cult favorite. James’ Instagram has over 90,000 followers, and her content has an ability to both exude grace and relatability — two themes that run throughout the brand’s identity.
“I created Brother Vellies with the intention of comforting and sharing the work of certain communities,” James told Refinery29. “Over the past five years, my communities have grown and expanded exponentially but my mission remains the same.”
The aforementioned community and work, like many other small businesses, have been threatened by wide-scale business closures amid the coronavirus pandemic. In a recent social media post, James’ friend and former Teen Vogue editor-in-chief Elaine Welteroth praised the Brother Vellies entrepreneur and creative director for fighting for her business in the face of a crisis, something many small business owners have had to do.
“As desperately needed PPP loans intended for small businesses like hers wound up padding the pockets of big business, Aurora did what so many small business owners—especially black and women-run companies—have had to do along. She rolled up her sleeves and she SAVED HERSELF.” Welteroth said, referencing publicly traded companies that received over $500 million in federal aid meant for small businesses, according to the Wall Street Journal.
“She did the thing every podcast is preaching, the thing business schools will be modeling—she POWERFULLY PIVOTED. And it’s been one of the most inspiring things you could witness.” Welteroth said further.
Some of the items that may be included in “Something Special” range from comfy socks and ceramic vases handcrafted by Mexican artists to hand-poured candles from New York, Bustle reported. James thought of the subscription premise after noticing how certain items like her “beloved Mexican mug” took off in demand after they became available for purchase, according to Bustle. Even still, the integrity of the process couldn’t be compromised.
“At present we can only make five to 10 mugs a day. It’s a process filled with love and care and local sustainable sourcing," James said. "Which made me think, What is luxury if not that? Luxury can no longer be represented by a price point, it must only be represented by process.”
You can sign up for the Something Special subscription box here.
