and dressing Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for the Met Gala in 2021. With both Brother Vellies and the Fifteen Percent Pledge, she asked, “What does it mean to take these people who have been not just underrepresented — but historically excluded — and involve them in what you’re doing in a way that’s not only the right thing to do, but also really good business?” In her book, she looks inward and reflects on finding ways to excel despite being set up to fail.
The concept of someone even tracking their carbon footprint was non-existent at that time, and people would still make these passive, dismissive comments about anything I said in the sustainability realm. And I think that’s because it was threatening — people push back on the things that they feel like are going to threaten their own safety and their way of life. Not necessarily because they're opposed to the idea, but because they feel scared.
“Bart Soloman” [a pseudonym] — who loaned Brother Vellies money that became increasingly difficult to pay off — is one of the antagonists of your memoir from a narrative perspective. Can you talk about the broad strokes of your agreement with this person? And the prevalence of these financial arrangements in the fashion industry?