Trust AAE Speakers Bureau for Booking Top Professional Speakers. Find a Keynote Speaker Today.
Trust AAE Speakers Bureau for Booking Top Professional Speakers. Find a Keynote Speaker Today.
Aurora James

Aurora James

Keynote Speaker: Creative Director, Activist, Fashion Designer & Founder of the 15 Percent Pledge

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  • Speaking Fee:
    Live Event Fee: $30,000 - $50,000
    Virtual Event Fee: $20,000 - $30,000
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Aurora James Biography

Aurora James, Creative Director and Founder of luxury accessories brand Brother Vellies and founder of the non-profit advocacy organization, Fifteen Percent Pledge, has long worked to make the global economy a more equitable place for historically excluded groups.

Brother Vellies was founded in 2013 with the goal of keeping traditional African design practices and techniques alive. The brand supports artisan communities around the world, creating timeless pieces that celebrate various cultural histories and honor the individuals that make them through fair labor practices and job creation. The first Brother Vellies collection was a single style of vellies that James sold at the Hester Street Fair in New York. Today, Brother Vellies is handmade across the globe and has expanded into handbags and other accessories categories, including a home goods subscription service, Something Special.

In June 2020, James founded the Fifteen Percent Pledge, a non-profit advocacy organization that is closing the racial wealth gap by partnering with retailers to diversify their shelves and commit 15 percent of their purchasing power to Black-owned businesses. Under James’s leadership, what initially began as an Instagram post has now expanded to a full-fledged organization with ten full-time staff members. To date, the Pledge has partnered with nearly 30 major companies across industries, including Macy’s, Nordstrom, Sephora, Ulta Beauty and more. By 2030, the organization aims to drive $1.4 trillion of wealth generation by Black entrepreneurs and increase Black business representation by 14.6 percent.

As a result of her advocacy work, James has been awarded the Council of Fashion Designers of America’s Founders Award, and named to the 2021 TIME100 and the 2020 Bloomberg 50.

James currently splits her time between New York City and Los Angeles with her dog, Mr. Chow.

Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Aurora James and other top speakers and celebrities.

Aurora James Videos

Aurora James | TIME100 Talks
Aurora James on the 15 Percent Pledge
Sustainability in Fashion with Brother Vellies founder, Aurora James

How do I book Aurora James to speak at my event?

Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Aurora James for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Aurora James, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Aurora James or any other speaker of your choice.

How much does it cost to book Aurora James for a speaking engagement?

Speaking fees for Aurora James, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Aurora James are $30,000 - $50,000 for live events and $20,000 - $30,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Aurora James, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.

What topics does Aurora James speak about?

Aurora James is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Fashion, Design, Women in Business, Diversity, Social Activism, Black Heritage and Women.

Where does Aurora James travel from?

Aurora James generally travels from New York, NY, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.

Who is the agent for Aurora James?

AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Aurora James for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Aurora James for your next private or corporate function.

What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Aurora James or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.

Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.


Aurora James is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics including Fashion, Design and Women in Business. The estimated speaking fee range to book Aurora James for live events is $30,000 - $50,000, and for virtual events $20,000 - $30,000. Aurora James generally travels from New York, NY, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Ruth E. Carter, Elaine Welteroth and Lisa Leslie. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Aurora James for an upcoming event.

Aurora James Videos

Aurora James | TIME100 Talks
Aurora James on the 15 Percent Pledge
Sustainability in Fashion with Brother Vellies founder, Aurora James

Aurora James Reviews

  • The audience loved Aurora - folks were laughing, crying, and in awe. She also was very accommodating during the book signing and allowed women to take selfies.
    The American Institute of Architects - Sep 19 2023

  • It was amazing. The audience loved Aurora - folks were laughing, crying, and in awe. She also was very accommodating during the book signing and allowed women to take selfies.
    The American Institute of Architects - Sep 15 2023

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All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.