Wildflower

A Memoir

De: Aurora James

Narrado por: Aurora James

This “empowering and inspirational” (People) memoir of struggle and perseverance offers new ways of envisioning economic equality for everyone—from a leading activist and fashion pioneer.

“With community and sisterhood at its center, Wildflower teaches us that against all odds, we can overcome.”—Rupi Kaur, New York Times bestselling author of milk and honey

A BLOOMBERG AND HARPER’S BAZAAR BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR

Aurora James’s life is a great American “success story”—precisely because it looks so different from others we’ve seen. Scouted as a teen model, James struggled with body image and became disenchanted by the industry’s objectification of women and commodification of race. After she’d hit rock bottom, dropping out of high school and being arrested for street racing, she was forced to reshape her life. A slew of fashion-related jobs led James to discover the power of the runway, and she started her own business in a flea market: a sustainable fashion line showcasing traditional African designs that would become an award-winning international brand.

Already a rising star and trailblazer in fashion, she posted a revolutionary idea in the wake of George Floyd’s murder that challenged retailers to commit 15 percent of their shelf space to Black businesses. This became the Fifteen Percent Pledge, one of the fastest-growing social justice nonprofits. To date, more than two dozen of the world’s most recognized retailers have taken the pledge, redirecting $14 billion in annual revenue to Black and BIPOC brands.

Wildflower is the riveting story of how Aurora James made an indelible mark on the American economic system and a rallying cry for those eager to make change.

©2023 Aurora James (P)2023 Random House Audio

Reseñas de la Crítica

“Inspiring. . . . Wildflower is true to its name, sharing a story of someone who bloomed despite obstacles and dedicated herself to beauty inside and out even when doing so wasn’t so simple.”—Town & Country

“This is a story of a woman who can do anything she sets her mind to, and in telling her story, shows us that we can too. With community and sisterhood at its center, Wildflower teaches us that against all odds, we can overcome.”—Rupi Kaur, New York Times bestselling author of milk and honey

“Wildflower is a stunning story of grit, grace, and resilience. Aurora James takes us on a vivid journey through a life informed by creativity, vision, and an indefatigable entrepreneurial spirit while always staying grounded in her commitment to the highest principles and values. . . . A must-read!”—Huma Abedin, New York Times bestselling author of Both/And

She's lived so much life!

My first ever audiobook! I think this was a great choice to dip my toe into the waters of this new reading medium. I listened to the book while crafting and driving and it perfectly kept my attention.

I’ve followed Aurora James on Instagram for several years, aware of her because of her fashion work with Brother Vellies, and was so intrigued listening to the introduction of the memoir and realizing just how little I knew of her background.

She has lived so many lives! It’s pretty stunning the amount of ground she covered. She shed light on the good and the bad, from her creative endeavors and building Brother Vellies and The 15 Percent Pledge, to her abuse at the hands of her stepfather and the related fallout with her mother, as well as internal and external tension around her identity as a biracial woman.

It was clear she has a real passion for the world around her, and I appreciated her insights/reflections around consumerism, creating opportunities for craftsmen and women around the world, and properly valuing artisans’ work.

I value that Aurora chose to narrate the audiobook herself; it made the experience more personal, I was able to glean more nuance from the way she delivered certain lines and it also played into the plot of the book, since her voice is something she’s been criticized over/been picked on for over her life.

I really appreciated how transparent and vulnerable she was detailing the struggles she’s experienced with Brother Vellies and how she peeled back the curtain to share what was happening behind the scenes. Oftentimes things were much different from how they appeared on the surface.

Aurora has led such a varied and interesting life and I really valued getting to learn more about her and her journey thus far.

Love her story AND voice

Nothing sleepy about Aurora. Great story telling and the connection between fashion conveying an ethos while simultaneously being consumed by another culture is so empowering. Appreciated her take on Wintour too. What James has done with the pledge and commitment to designing in African nations is inspiring. I am at the stage of life where I am indeed buying one quality piece made with real fabrics instead of supporting unethically made fast fashion. So, I hope to add Brother Vellies to my collection in the near future.

Inspiring!!!!

I enjoyed learning about Aurora James. I am a new fan and will share her book with others! Well done.

Next Level 💗

I cannot emphasize enough the impact of this woman and this book. The influence she has will change lives and communities. Incredible!

Finished in one day!

Aurora James story is an incredible one that made cry, made me angry and hopeful all in one read. A lot of her experiences were parallel to some of my own so the early chapters were so relatable. I admire her fearlessness and how she unapologetically shows up in this world. She is an inspiration!

Must read

This has quickly become one of my favorite books ever. As a person of color, I can’t tell you how powerful, inspiring, sad at times, energizing at others it was to hear this story. Thank you for sharing.

Stuck the landing

So proud of this woman and everything she’s done! Can’t wait to share this with all my friends. Also look forward to becoming a supporter!

Incredible work

Love this book. I feel empowered by Aurora’s story. Definitely a must read, especially for women, but all can be inspired by Aurora’s drive and commitment.

Wildflower

Thoughtful and Detailed and Inspiring and Educational. I cannot wait to see what Aurora James does next.

Worth the consideration

As someone who is not only not interested in fashion, but also quite turned off by all of its trappings, I would never have thought to read this book on my own. However, I caught the tail end of an interview of Aurora James on a Sunday morning NPR program.
I was intrigued by what Aurora said about the stereotyped ideas people had about doing business in Africa with African artists. My husband and I have faced similarly biased remarks about our work in the Yucatan with the Maya.
I was also delighted when I realized that I could listen to it on Audible. Although James’ voice isn’t stellar, her passion in her story’s telling and her quick mind more than make up for the lack of voice quality. I also appreciated the fiscal lessons I learned about scaling up a successful business.