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Wildflower : a memoir / Aurora James.

By: Material type: TextTextPublisher: New York : Crown, [2023]Edition: First editionDescription: x, 289 pages ; 22 cmContent type:
  • text
Media type:
  • unmediated
Carrier type:
  • volume
ISBN:
  • 9780593239452
  • 0593239458
Subject(s): Genre/Form:
Contents:
Prologue -- My mother's daughter -- Castles made of sand -- Food to cry -- Bruised fruit -- Lions and hunters -- Passing -- Call me if you get lost -- Adrift -- Planting seeds... -- Seeking sunlight -- Wanderlust -- From Africa with love -- Garden of good and evil -- Winning isn't everything -- Target on my back -- Close to the sun -- Homesick for another world -- My ask -- Seeds become trees -- A seat at the table -- Joyful rebellion -- Afterword -- Acknowledgments.
Summary: "This extraordinary memoir of struggle and perseverance offers new ways of envisioning economic equality for everyone-from a leading activist and fashion pioneer. Aurora James's story is not a "success story." Or at least, it shouldn't be told that way. Having dropped out of high school, struggled with body image, and dabbled in street racing, her eventual arrest might have been her rock bottom. But as a visionary and optimist, that experience became one of many that reshaped her way of thinking about the world. After a brief modeling stint, James discovered the real power in creating for the runway and started her own business in a flea market, a sustainable fashion line showcasing traditional African design that would become an award-winning international brand. Then she founded one of the fastest-growing social justice nonprofits, the Fifteen Percent Pledge. But none of this came from a desire to "succeed." It came from a desire to forge a new creative path-and to lift others up alongside her. Already a rising star in fashion and the first Black American female designer to win a CFDA Award, James was inspired by the activism that swept the nation in the summer of 2020 to think bigger about how to empower Black business owners. With an idea and an Instagram post, she founded the Fifteen Percent Pledge, which challenges retailers to commit 15% of their shelf space and spending power to Black businesses. To date, more than two dozen of the world's most recognized retailers have taken the pledge, redirecting $10 billion in revenue to Black brands. Empowering and full of heart, Wildflower is the story of how Aurora James got to where she is now and a rallying cry for those eager to make change"-- Provided by publisher.
Holdings
Item type Home library Collection Call number Materials specified Status Date due Barcode Item holds
Adult Book Adult Book Main Library Biography JAMES, A. J27 Available 33111011278468
Adult Book Adult Book Northport Library Biography JAMES, A. J27 Available 33111009474939
Total holds: 0

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

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.

Prologue -- My mother's daughter -- Castles made of sand -- Food to cry -- Bruised fruit -- Lions and hunters -- Passing -- Call me if you get lost -- Adrift -- Planting seeds... -- Seeking sunlight -- Wanderlust -- From Africa with love -- Garden of good and evil -- Winning isn't everything -- Target on my back -- Close to the sun -- Homesick for another world -- My ask -- Seeds become trees -- A seat at the table -- Joyful rebellion -- Afterword -- Acknowledgments.

"This extraordinary memoir of struggle and perseverance offers new ways of envisioning economic equality for everyone-from a leading activist and fashion pioneer. Aurora James's story is not a "success story." Or at least, it shouldn't be told that way. Having dropped out of high school, struggled with body image, and dabbled in street racing, her eventual arrest might have been her rock bottom. But as a visionary and optimist, that experience became one of many that reshaped her way of thinking about the world. After a brief modeling stint, James discovered the real power in creating for the runway and started her own business in a flea market, a sustainable fashion line showcasing traditional African design that would become an award-winning international brand. Then she founded one of the fastest-growing social justice nonprofits, the Fifteen Percent Pledge. But none of this came from a desire to "succeed." It came from a desire to forge a new creative path-and to lift others up alongside her. Already a rising star in fashion and the first Black American female designer to win a CFDA Award, James was inspired by the activism that swept the nation in the summer of 2020 to think bigger about how to empower Black business owners. With an idea and an Instagram post, she founded the Fifteen Percent Pledge, which challenges retailers to commit 15% of their shelf space and spending power to Black businesses. To date, more than two dozen of the world's most recognized retailers have taken the pledge, redirecting $10 billion in revenue to Black brands. Empowering and full of heart, Wildflower is the story of how Aurora James got to where she is now and a rallying cry for those eager to make change"-- Provided by publisher.

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