It was a Sunday morning. I was walking through the living room with a heap of laundry in hand, making my way to the laundry room when I heard a soft voice on TV say, “That year I read the Bible three times.”
Suddenly I was halted and my eyes were fixated towards the screen. A mocha colored woman, with a small frame, and decaf, parted, shoulder length hair, looked back at me. It was Aurora James, owner of shoe company, Brother Vellies, founder of the Fifteen Percent Pledge, and vice chair of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA). That may have been the first time I had heard of her, but it certainly would not be the last.
The aforementioned statement was striking to me because I had recently started reading the Bible. My goal was to read the entire Bible from beginning to end by my 34th birthday which at the time was seven months away. Reading seven pages a day seemed doable until I figured out ‘life be lifing’. Constantly distracted by my daily roles of operating a business, parenting, dating, and socializing, sometimes I would only read once a week. That left me wondering how on earth did Ms. James manage to read the Bible three times in one year?
Of course she never answered that question, but she continued with her interview, giving more insight into her business.
It would be months later when I per chance stumbled across Ms. James’ Instagram. In awe of her beautiful style and grace, I made that blue button go grey. I continued scrolling on her profile until I came across the promotion for her book “Wildflower“. Already intrigued by her Sunday morning television interview, I had to read her book.
The following Sunday I went to my local Barnes and Noble and purchased the book. Fascinated by the story of Ms. James, I found myself finished with the book in five days. How someone’s hardships and misfortunes can coexist or catapult them towards their success was a story to be championed forever.
Molestation, domestic violence, estranged parental relationships, truancy, anorexia, discrimination, abortion, arrest, drug dealing, and so much more, have become a part of James’ memoir. While it was absolutely heartbreaking to hear of all the horrendous things James encountered, those moments were countered with many successes such as being featured in several magazines and tv shows (like Vogue and Amazon’s The Fashion Fund series), winning the CFDA Fashion Fund for $300,000, and acquiring millions of dollars in funding for the Fifteen Percent Pledge.
Of course, even those highs were met with their own set of problems. Like when James acquired a $70,000 loan which ballooned into over a million dollars because the repayment terms were next to impossible to achieve. It was a seesaw of highs and lows, sometimes leaving James unable to celebrate her milestones.
What I enjoyed most about James’ tale is all the gems, knowledge, and issues she shed light on. She enlightened readers on the importance of making sure their vendors are registered with certain trade agreements with the purpose of not having to factor in import duties. She discussed the dangers of the “Dress for Less” mentality. And she highlighted the unjust appraisal of Italian made goods over African made goods, when both are made using the same material and fabrication.
As I flipped the hardcover closed, my countenance was softened with a smile. Aurora James’ Wildflower is aspirational. It inspires readers to keep going. Through James, readers learn that grit, tenacity, and perseverance, are a surefire way to achieve one’s goals.
If you are looking to learn about how to blossom despite where you have found yourself planted then look no further than Wildflower. Through James’ vulnerability and transparency, readers learn successful business practices, issues effecting retail, and ways to prevail during tribulations.
As I close out, I want to leave you with some of my favorite quotes from James’ memoir:
“Birthing a child does not make you a mother” (James 43)
“If you are not a socialist in your twenties, you have no heart. But if you’re not a capitalist in your thirties then you have no brain.” (James 109)
“That was an aha moment for me: All these artisans were using the same kind of leather to make beautiful products- the only difference was that it was Himba hands versus Italian, black versus white. Celebrated versus forgotten.” (James 125)
When stated that shelf space in stores should go to the best brands not black brands, James’ rebuttal was:
“Right now shelf space was not going to the best brands. It was going to the most well-funded or well-connected brands” (James 238)
By the end of the novel, readers will get the gist of why Ms. Aurora is rightfully a ‘Wildflower’.
If you’ve read or are going to read the book comment your thoughts below.
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