So PETA2 (kind of like Skipper to Peta’s Barbie) decided to host a t-shirt design competition. Here’s some info on the winning designer who was selected by Bloc Party’s Russell Lissack.

What’s better than a brand-new April77 pro-vegetarian T-shirt? How about when a member of Bloc Party agrees to be the guest judge and pick the winning design in a contest we ran on peta2 a few months ago? And if that’s not good enough for you (you ungrateful buggers!), we’ve got five of the aforementioned designer shirts and five signed Bloc Party albums up for grabs!

If you remember, a few months ago we called on all budding fashion designers to design a pro-vegetarian shirt for French designer label April77, a company that refuses to design with animal skins. April77’s clothes are favorites of the likes of The Horrors, The Rakes, and The Klaxons. We had so many brilliant entries that after many fistfights between PETA staffers, we decided to enlist the help of a neutral party to pick the winner—and we’re pleased to announce that Russell Lissack of Bloc Party is our Switzerland! Russell chose Eric Ahnebrink’s “Meat Is Still Murder” design as the deserving winner, closely followed by the fabulous entries from Francesco from Italy and Heather from the U.K. Check out the designs below.

Popularity: 3% [?]

Skimming through Shopbop.com, I came across this Foley + Corinna Country tote. It’s crafted out of burlap and coffee bean sacks, which usually means the bag should be cheap since each of those fabrics are dirt cheap or free, but surprise surprise the bag costs $444 bucks. Am I missing something here or is it now okay to over charge because something is deemed “eco-chic”? Granted the bag is an exclusive and only available at Shopbop, but if the fabric’s not worth the price why over charge?

Hopefully Rogan’s upcoming collabo with Target will show that you don’t have to be over priced to be eco-friendly.

Popularity: 7% [?]

This year has seen a bevy of new designers, break-out talents and designers with collections that push the preconcieved notions of fashion. Okay so maybe it hasn’t been that kind of year but 2007 proved that new talent is just as marketable and sellable as the Golden Oldies.

Here’s our picks for the ten best indie designers of 2007.

#1. Proenza Schouler - Selling Out Never Felt So Good

The big news of 2007 was when the chosen boys of 2006, Lazaro Hernandez and Jack McCollough, packed Soho’s Opening Ceremony with their capsule collection for Target’s Go! International line. The collection quickly found fans amongst New York’s “be hip or die” crowd with $34.99 pieces from the collection showing up at the Misshapes party at Don Hills. What came as a real surprise was when the indie kings went corporate and sold 45% of their company to Valentino. We’d normally turn our backs (or just make fun while no one was listening) but the boys won back our praise by becoming bloggers for the day and interviewing Chloe Sevengy for the New York Times. All in all the Schouler boys win top spot on the list for their Safari-inspired Spring collection and for making moves in all the right circles.

#2. Rogan - The Eco Hero

Rogan Gregory’s eco-friendly, trade-free and dolphin safe collections, Loomstate, Rogan, and Edun, have shown the fashion world that it pays to go granola. His quick rise in celebrity popularity and dedication to his craft garnered Gregory acclaim and notice from major players like Vogue and the Council of Fashion Designers of America. The most shocking (but not surprising) moment in fashion in 2007 was when Rogan beat favorite to win, designer Philip Lim, for the top prize ($200,000!!!) of the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund awards. Apparently having Bono and a Carbon Footprint measuring tape in your back pocket will win you a vote from Winnie and The Von Furstenburger.

#3. Thom Browne - His Genius Doesn’t Come Up Short

As a child, one day I woke up and discovered I had grown two feet overnight. Of course it was a Sunday and I realized that my normally perfect fitted suit was better prepared for a flood than Noah . I threw out the suit, but thinking back I wish I kept it. The petal pushing Browne challenged menswear a few years back with a collection of finely tailored suits that cut it’s sleeves at a 3/4 length and pants at a length just above the ankle. Initially smirked at by those in the know, Thom has blossomed as a designer and took on 2007 with a collection for the stodgy Brooks Brothers called Black Fleece. The collection featured a womens touch with a full line of suits made for lovely lady lumps. The woman who rocked it, evoked an Annie Hallish image, and a new trend for fall emerged. This dude knows what he’s doing fellas, it might be time to hem up.

#4. Victoria Bartlett - Underoos Are Panties for BoysDevastatingly poised for massive amounts of success, Victoria Bartlett has produced a truly original, wearable fashion collection. VPL (Visible Panty Line) questions the structure of underpinnings by bringing them out above your clothes. The result is a line which makes every woman look like Wonder Woman, a look most memorably perfected by Posh Spice and David Beckham for W magazine. This year also marked Victoria’s joining the CFDA and being nominated for it’s coveted fashion fund.

#5. Philip Lim - The Next Jacobs, The Next Posen, The Now Lim
This year marked a number of milestones for the young Mr.Lim. A collaboration with Uniqlo, a new store on Mercer, a second CFDA nom and a win, and mucho admiration from the fashionably elite. Next year sees possible colabos with Coach (a brand desperately in need of an overhaul) and a slew of other jollies which will undoubtedly put the Limster in a whole new league. He’s on the cusp of greatness and it’s fun to be along for the ride.

#6 Louise Goldin - The Colors of Fun

Far from boring Louise Goldin’s signature line is a heavy dose of color mixed with a sense of knitting which would make Missoni blush. A fun array of bright energy, the collection of spring dresses from this young designer offers the kind of look which would make Willy Wonka and OZ look like Technicolor stones is a HDTV world. Next year we can look forward to a Louise Goldin / Topshop connection which will hopefully wash over to our shores when Topshop NY opens.

#7. Love Brigade - I’m Ready for My Close Up, Mrs.Wintour.

Our love for Love Brigade is well documented. We party with them, we host their events, we have Alyssa Key’s name tattooed on our ass (okay that may just be a me thing), but 2007 was the year that the Brigaders went primetime. TheNewPop.com made the souldiers the subject of a series of fashion videos all focussed around their adventures. We got to see their jam packed fashion week shows, behind the scenes peek at the opening of their new boutique and some fun drama starring yours truly. With a new Nirvana inspired collection on the horizon, an awesome collective in the heart of Williamsburg and a possible (hush hush) collabo with a major retailer, this was the year that the Brigaders found their groove.

#8. Black Sheep & Prodigal Sons - Death Becomes He

The morbid, dreary pieces in Derick R. Cruz’s Black Sheep & Prodigal Sons should not be worn lightly. Using elements like ram heads, Victorian reliefs, and prayer hands, the collection evokes a level of mystery and malice that few jewelry designers can replicate. This year marked his Gen Art Styles Award win as Accessory Designer of the Year and an exclusive collection with personal favorite, BBlessings.

#9. Chloe Sevigny for Opening Ceremony - Why Didn’t This Happen Sooner?

One of the only collections on the list that I haven’t seen in person, Chloe Sevigny’s capsule collection for Opening Ceremony looks to be the start of a very successful celebrity line. Not normally a fan of the Hollywood set closets, Chloe is one indie icon that deserves a little respect. Her impeccable style and dedication to the scenesters makes her collection so much more desirable. What I’m basically saying is, “Chloe get back on that sewing machine a make me a mens collection!!!”

#10. Rebecca Turbow - Got My Thing Down Flip It and Reverse It

For the Polartec/Fashion Indie Designer Challenge, Rebecca Turbow crafted a complex geographically layered dress that looked like the mix between a typography dress and a disco dress. The look stunned all in attendance for it’s complexity, reversibility (yeah it was reversible), and it’s unquestionable style. Turbow one top prize and continues to push the limits of wearable fashion with a collection made for the not so common girl.

Till next year indies.

- Daniel Saynt

Popularity: 54% [?]

Either Stella McCartneyism is wearing off on some A-list celebs or Queen Amadala is a vegan.

Natalie Portman is set to design a collection of cruelty-free shoes for ultra hip Soho boutique Te Casan. The shoes will be available in February, just in time to show some V-Day love for the animals.

Te Casan has always been a spectacular place to shop and I’m sure these sneaks/heels/booties/flats or whatever they are will be a must have.

Popularity: 17% [?]

Fashion Indie is always on the look out for eco-friendly, sustainable, free-trade worthy goodies. Not only do these products protect our fragile environment/prevent us from further destroying it, they also are wearable and oh so fashionable. Well, we’ve found a bag which accomplishes a couple of worthy causes, it’s environmentally friendly, uses recycled leather, supports African commerce, and looks like a perfect match for any ethnic looks your trying to accomplish.

A perfect carry all which matches any Safari inspired (think Proenza Schouler) or animal printed looks, the Afrobag is a new experiment being launched by the socially conscious website www.tashanda.com. It is a line of handbags made in the third world country of Zimbabwe, Africa using 100% cotton, environmentally friendly dyes, and recycled leather off-cuts from local furniture manufacturing companies. Take a look and add your comments. Your feedback & purchases will help us develop a part of Sub Saharan Africa’s economy, while maintaining your grasp on fashion.

http://www.tashanda.com

Popularity: 3% [?]

In tune with my latest article on recycling, I found a designer right up the “GREEN” ally.

Gary Harvey has made a fashion revolution with his “recycled” dresses. “By sourcing fabrics and raw material that have literally been thrown away, you can look good and be good too. Too many garments are deemed aesthetically redundant and are discarded at the end of the season, when there are still many years of wear left.” Gary has made a career for himself out of his frustration toward the mainstream. Working as Creative Director of Levi Strauss and Dockers Europe for nearly ten years, Gary saw first hand how much was being thrown away and decided to create something out of his dismay; to change people’s perception of second-hand clothing and create a fashion and social conscience.

His first dress evolved using 42 pairs of Levi’s 502’s. His other works include a stunning design using 18 Burberry macs, a corset dress using 28 camouflage Army jackets, and a body-contouring gown using discarded baseball jackets. His latest collection is made of 30 recycled copies of the Financial Times. His silhouettes are inspired by vintage ball gowns (totally perfect with the “recycled” theme) and his first collection showcased his stunning dresses during London Fashion Week. Now this is a designer that’s doing something for change….

Popularity: 1% [?]

So you know how everyone and their mother is trying so hard to recycle these days? And then there’s this Green & Organic trend that has taken over fashion. Plus paper consumption is being limited because of the depletion of natural resources in the world. Well then, what the hell are designers thinking using wood as a raw material for their designs. They try to push it as an eco-friendly alternative but it’s the same as consuming a large amount of paper products!

I know it’s pretty and light, and has really nice “organic” appeal, but with so much waste taking place right now can we please stop the use of natural wood for products that really don’t need to be made out of wood! Wood has been used since the creation of man for everything from fuel to transportation, but now that we have the knowledge and technology not to use it, why do we keep abusing it? It’s not a luxury item that you can show off and it’s not cheap, so why spend the money on a wooden ring when you already spend sooo much on toilet paper (and then recycle the newpaper). It’s like vegetarians wearing leather, it just doesn’t make sense, not too mention it’s hypocritical!

Believe me, I’m in fashion so I completely understand the sacrifices we make for the sake of fashion (I have two fur coats, shaved not skinned, big difference!), but cannot understand the appeal of carrying a bag made of wood. Not only is it unpractical and heavy, it doesn’t look appealing and it’s soo limited in its design. My boyfriend wanted a wooden briefcase from the MOMA store and it looked like a science project and cost over two hundered dollars! Well anyways, here are some of the outrageous wooden pieces I found…

Popularity: 1% [?]