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Brother Vellies

Brother Vellies was founded with the goal of introducing African footwear to the world, and sustaining artisanal jobs. Handmade in Africa and Morocco, Brother Vellies creates footwear infused with the spirit of African creativity. Vellies is African slang for a local version of the original desert boot, correctly called a velskoen. This boot gave birth to the business in name as well as style, forming the basis of the collection. Produced in a small South African workshop, they make a few dozen pairs a day, entirely by hand. Established in 1963, the workshop welcomes artisans of every stripe without prejudice, irrelevant of gender, sexual orientation, background or tribe.

The artisans that hand produce the collection receive fair wages, as well as skills training. The hand made nature of the line helps to keep the carbon footprint low, and employment numbers high. Designs with hand beaded embellishment is done by female home workers from African or Czech Republic beads, or bone sourced form the Kibera district of Kenya. Even shoe buckles are produced with Kenyan artisans from hand cast recycled brass padlocks and keys.

Website: www.brothervellies.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/BrotherVellies

Facebook: www.facebook.com/BrotherVelliesNY

Tumblr: http://brothervellies.tumblr.com