Founded by Aurora James of Brother Vellies in the wake of George Floyd’s murder during the summer of 2020, The 15 Percent Pledge is, per Wiki, “a US-based non-profit organization that encourages retailers to pledge at least 15 percent of their shelf-space to Black-owned businesses. The foundation conducts audits, shares its database of Black-owned businesses, and offers business development strategies to participating companies.” They also have an excellent website that, among other things, makes it easy to find and shop Black-owned brands, which is a great resource. On Saturday, they held a gala awarding grants to Black-owned companies, and the dress code was “black tie, Black designer.” Let’s take in these looks!
