Fashion Fridays: Company Crush Brother Vellies

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“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…

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Woman's Gladiator Photo Credit: Brother Vellies

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

In The Papers: NYTimes Fashion’s Racial Divide

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The NYTimes: Fashion’s Racial Divide article touches on several points regarding the racial divide in the fashion industry. Good read, now what next? I think in addition to the fashion industry recognizing that they should be more inclusive, we also have to support the young ones that want to pursue such careers. In the West Indian culture, parents only know about four careers Lawyer, Doctor, Accountant, Engineer…you get the picture. I wish I had taken the opportunity to study at FIT while I was in college, my school had a special program that allowed you to study there in your last year, if you qualified. To satisfy my fashion palette and missed opportunity some years ago, I took a couple courses after returning to NY from law school. To add insult to injury, FIT is where I sat for weeks for my Bar Exam classes. The irony!

Some of us have a mix of creativity coupled with the intellectual, hence this Fashion Blog that allows me to express my creative side. Parents always want you to choose careers that yield the highest benefits, for them fashion is not always it. For me, my parents did not force being an attorney, it was my goal from a young age so they did not have to reinforce it so much or dissuade me from pursuing another career. But, I always had this creative outlet for writing and a respect for fashion due in part to my Mom’s great sense of style.

It’s not true that fashion careers don’t yeild a great benefit. I think the best thing you can do is encourage your child to pursue what makes their hearts sing, if that means a double-major, so they have a backup plan, then that is a good route. Don’t dissuade, encourage.

On the flip side, I think Fashion Schools have to be all encompassing for all races as well. I had an experience at FIT for a program I applied to some years ago and the questions that were posed to me and statements made were jaw-dropping to say the least. I took it in stride and a sign that was not my path, for that moment. I share this with you to say that there are many aspects to fixing this racial divide: parents, school administrators, the industry, the companies, all play a part. They all have to be willing to do their part in fixing the divide to encourage inclusion of all races in this industry.

Read the Article

Any thoughts?

Black History Month: Alma Thomas – FLOTUS

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The First Lady unveiled the newly renovated dining room at the White House, adding a dash of modern decor. This is the first time a First Lady has introduced 20th Century art to the White House. Highlighting this great room are several modern pieces by American artists and artisans. One particular piece that Flotus spoke of is by Alma Thomas. She is the first African-American female to have her art shown in the White House. The piece chosen is called Resurrection, which is fitting wouldn’t you say. Kudos to Flotus for inspiring us to uplift and support other women as you have here.

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Alma Thomas at Whitney Museum Exhibition Opening. Photo Credit: Wikipedia

Ms. Thomas attended Howard University in 1921 and earned her BS in Fine Arts in 1924. She was the first graduate from the university fine art program. In 1934, she earned her Masters in Art Education from Columbia University. An Expressionist painter and art educator, she was the first African-American woman to have a solo exhibition at the Whitney Museum of American Art, and within the same year an exhibition was also held at the Corcoran Gallery of Art in 1972.

She tried a new kind of painting. Painting everything she saw in her garden. She watched the changes her garden went through. That influenced the ways she could change her paintings, to be more like that fascinating world she saw outside her Washington D.C. window.

“I got some watercolors and some crayons, and I began dabbling,” she said. “Little dabs of color that spread out very free…that’s how it all began. And every morning since then, the wind has given me new colors through the windowpanes.” I think Ms. Thomas would be happy to know that her happy garden is sitting in the White House Dining Room.

May the wind bring you new colors everyday, as it did Ms. Thomas …

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Dedicated to Vanessa and all the women that support and uplift one another.

Inspiration Wednesday~Student of St. Lucian parentage inspires HONY to launch campaign for school

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Go Vidal!  Yes, you do matter!  We all can use some inspiration and motivation after the snowstorm. Is there a person on this planet that has not heard of Humans of New York, created by Brandon Stanton.  He recently asked Vidal Chastanet who has influenced him the most and he responded his principal, Ms. Lopez. His reason, “…because she tells us that we matter.”  Inspired by Vidal’s response he launched a campaign that will enable the kids from Vidal’s school, Mott Hall Bridges Academy in Brownsville Brooklyn, to go on class trips to Harvard University. 

I can understand why Brandon was so moved by Vidal’s response.  It’s great when you know you matter to someone.  That your life, your very existence is appreciated and you are loved.    Read more about Vidal and HONY if you’d like to participate in The Vidal Fund. The campaign has now raised over $800,000, well beyond the $100,000 goal. Cheers to Mott Hall Bridges Academy, Brandon Stanton, and most especially Vidal who inspired this campaign because he was inspired.

Continue the cycle of inspiring one another!

Dancing to Beyoncé – 7/11 & Admiring Kim K. Assets

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Watched vid yesterday and was dying laughing.  It tickled me to see Bey so free!  Refreshing almost.  What’s the song about, ladies night, drunken night, message to her haters that no matter what she does she is fresh?  Probably all that and more.  Either way take it for what it is, dance don’t dance.

On the flip side, Kim K popped in my head.  Yes, she is a friend in my head as Wendy would say.  This was a lengthy discussion amongst friends that left a couple with their panties in a bunch because I didn’t see the big deal over her full frontal pictures.  I believe everyone has a talent, some talents are very well-defined others obscure.  I back away from calling another woman a whore just because she chooses and has made a business out of using what God has blessed her with.  Same I wouldn’t call Bey’s video ridiculous because it veered off from her norm, actually not really just less formal, less fanfare.  I think we all reach the point in life where you want to feel free.  Free might be posing completely nude, free might be doing isolated butt cheek movements in your bathroom, lol did you see that.  Either way take things in it’s context, don’t be so judgmental.  It’s entertainment, it’s a business, it’s freedom of expression. Both should have business classes at Carvard & Kale (get it) to teach how you brand yourself and build a business from well-defined and obscure talents, seriously!  I would take the class, because hot-damn no matter the theories behind their success, they have managed to build empires out of their individual talents (however you define a talent). Either way hate it or love it, their lives go on. What are you doing with your talents?

What’s your talent, how are you developing it, do you have the balls to share your talent like these women?  Just asking….

Cheers to Freedom Saturdays and seeing things from the flip side!

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Normcore | New Trend & Sneaker Con

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I actually never heard of this term “Normcore” till I read this Stylecaster article Now I can put a name on how I have been feeling. For some odd reason I have been feeling like rocking sneakers, a dress or jogging pants and a dress coat. I wasn’t sure if I was going through some sort of meltdown because I always want to slide on heels and look fancied out. But, last few weeks I have been tired so whenever I had a chance I threw on my sneakers, yikes! Now I know I am just going through a Normcore stage of life. If you are a sneaker head check out Sneaker Con at Jacob Javitis Center on December 6th. I may have to attend as well and satisfy this new addiction I have to OMG sneakers!

Normcore isn’t all that new, but it’s being accepted as a fashionable way to dress and yes as Stylecaster has pointed out fashion companies are capitalizing on the “trend.” You think Anna Wintour Normcore’s???

Looky here, this is how I Normcore, evening Church flow few weeks back. How do you Normcore?
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Cheers to the weekend!

Hump Day Motivation: Inspiration, Faith, Habits, Beware of Toxic People

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Inspiring! Malala is an activist for female education and youngest winner of the Nobel Peace Prize. She has definitely gone through difficult times as we are all aware of but has persevered and continues to help others through http://www.malala.org/

It’s hump day!  That day of the week when you finally feel like you see the light at the end of the work tunnel.   However, the work is never over, your dreams never fade.  Your motivation, your energy, your passion and the people around you may be what fades.  I recommend reading these articles to not only get over the Wednesday hump, but to continue riding the wave of life because really and truly everyday there is a hurdle to get over, be it good or bad. Knowing how to deal with it all is how you reach your goals, remain focused on your passion, fulfill dreams, stay motivated, continue to keep the fire lit even when it’s being doused with negativity.   How are you going to get over the everyday hump?  How are you keeping your passion, motivation sky high?  How will you eliminate the tricks from the real treats?  If you are looking to take your dreams further and be surrounded and uplifted by the right people read these articles that lend some guidance and Inspiration. Continue to be consistent and faithful during the good and bad times, don’t out your fire reignite it!
12 Habits of People Who Always Fulfill Their Dreams

10 Toxic People You Should Avoid Like The Plague

Inspirational Quotes from Malala Yousafzai

Cheers to riding the wave of life, not just getting over it!

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