“Brother Vellies was founded by Aurora James with the goal of introducing the rest of the world to her favorite traditional African footwear, while also creating and sustaining artisanal jobs within Africa. Handmade in South Africa, Kenya and Namibia, Brother Vellies creates boots, shoes and sandals in styles that maintain the spirit and durability of their ancestral counterparts.” Brother Vellies Website

Wondering what Vellies are? The name of the company is derived from the word velskoen known as “vellies” – describes a modern day desert boot. Nice right, great name. This company is very special because they are assisting in maintaining the tradition of handmade footwear produced in Africa simultaneously increasing the awareness of the craft and employment. Ms. James is currently based here in Brooklyn (love it), in between her travels to Africa. Read more about her here .

Meantime, I am crushing on these shoes…

Woman's Gladiator Photo Credit: Brother Vellies

How cute are these Men's shoes & your "mini me" could have the matching pair