Fashion mogul sued for $1M over unpaid gala

Fashion designer Aurora James, acclaimed for designing Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's 'Tax the Rich' gown, is now embroiled in a significant legal battle. Her nonprofit organization, the 15 Percent Pledge, is being sued for over $1 million by event planning firm The Gathery Inc. The lawsuit centers on unpaid bills from the '15 Percent Pledge Gala 2026,' held at Paramount Studios in Los Angeles.

The gala, which occurred earlier this year on February 4, 2026, aimed to support Black business owners and boasted celebrity attendees like Meghan Markle and Kimora Lee Simmons. The Gathery alleges that after making initial deposits, James's nonprofit ceased all payments in November 2025, despite James personally overseeing the event and approving expanded costs.

Court documents claim James assured the planners that payment would be forthcoming, even after defaults began, and that she signed an amendment admitting breach. The Gathery is seeking at least $1,082,965.28 in damages. James founded the 15 Percent Pledge in 2020 to encourage retailers to allocate shelf space to Black-owned businesses.

This legal action is not the first financial controversy surrounding James. Reports from 2021 indicated past payment issues with her Brother Vellies fashion brand, including significant tax warrants. Legal experts note the irony of an organization advocating for economic fairness being accused of failing to pay a small business, potentially damaging the credibility of economic justice movements.