Every the most ardent fashionista will surely admit that there are some things which are - yes! - more important than the latest designer bag, Paris Hilton's newest business venture or what the stars are wearing to another black tie event. Nadia Plesner certainly thinks so: the 26-year old artist from Holland has created a series of striking posters to highlight the tragedy of the ongoing genocide in Darfur (in which so far 200,000-400,000 people have died -- and 2.5 million have been displaced from their homes).

To mark the contrast between the suffering of the people of Darfur and our love of celebrity style and gossip, she drew a starving African child holding a chihuahua dog and a purse which looks similar to something LV would make.

We love all of the amazing independent designers out there. In order to find out more about just what makes all of these creative types tick, we present to you an ongoing segment called Indie Designer Interviews.

Today's interview is with Indian-born artist Sowmya Parigi. She creates hand-painted, eco-friendly jute handbags, wine caddies, diaper bags and more, available online at her website SVA Creations.

As a New Orleans local, we're loving what reusable shopping bag company What's ur Bag is doing. Not only have they created a new line of environmentally friendly reusable grocery bags in a range of fun colors and prints, but they're also doing all they can to help bring back the recovering New Orleans economy. The bags are manufactured by a company that was totally destroyed by Hurricane Katrina and rebuilt, and all of the labels, packaging and material come from vendors based in NOLA as well. Their website was designed by a single mom from New Orleans and five percent of all profits go to Hope House, a New Orleans charity that feeds, trains, houses and clothes the homeless.

There are tons of eco-friendly reusable bag options on the market right now, but many are made in China. You can feel good in more ways than one by shopping with a reusable bag from What's ur Bag.

Alchemy Goods has a simple mission: "Turning useless into useful." Hence the name. Alchemy is the process of transforming matter. It hit its peak of popularity in medieval times, the age, not the restaurant, when turning lead into gold was all the rage.

Alchemy Goods isn't as obsessed with gold as their forerunners, rather they strive to turn "something of lesser value into something of greater value." Sure, they're a business and like to rake in a bit of the green, but they're much more interested in producing it- green that is. The emphasis is on the ecological not the economical.

We love all of the amazing independent designers out there. In order to find out more about just what makes all of these creative types tick, we present to you an ongoing segment called Indie Designer Interviews.

Today's interview is with handbag designer Joanna Baker of Jobie Boutique, a line of handcrafted bags perfect for women of any age. Joanna creates hobos, satchels, wristlets and cosmetic cases using high-quality, classic materials such as leather and suede paired with cotton canvas in timeless prints like paisley and houndstooth.

Why haven't I heard of Carla Braccialini? I walked by the store in Soho and did a double take. Their window was stocked with bold, bright, matching patent leather shoes and bags. It was so cool I had to stop in for a gander.

Look at this stuff on their great flash site! These lines don't even include the bright red and multicolored items I saw in their window. Look at the classy Looney Tunes stuff! I can't believe I just said that!

I'm a big fan of all of the amazing independent designers out there. In an effort to get inside the mind of the indie designer and find out just what makes all of these creative types tick, I present to you an ongoing segment I call Indie Designer Interviews.

Today's interview is with Merle OBrien, the Aspen, Colorado-based designer behind a line of eco handbags called OlovesM, which were recently handed out to celebs attending the Sundance Film Festival. These fashionable and environmentally friendly bags feature predominantly recycled materials, including a snazzy sport/diaper bag made from repurposed yoga mats.

How did you get started as a designer? I was in yoga class and the idea for my bags just popped into my head, so I ran off my mat and started doing a ton of research, and cut and sewed a lot of prototypes until I figured it out. I am one of those people who is always thinking about ideas, and some seem to work, while others just help me learn more do's and dont's about business!!

I'm a big fan of all of the amazing independent designers out there. In an effort to get inside the mind of the indie designer and find out just what makes all of these creative types tick, I present to you an ongoing segment I call Indie Designer Interviews. Today's interview is with the designer behind Oh So Retro, a line of fun handmade handbags, wallets and accessories.

Tell me a little about your work. I'm Adrienne, a seamstress turned designer hailing from Winnipeg, Canada. As my chosen business name implies, I am a fan of all things vintage and retro from furniture to dishes to textiles and books. I collect a little bit of everything and am always on the look out for vintage stock to incorporate into my designs. I do all of my sewing on a vintage Singer sewing machine from the 1950s which can prove challenging at times but things were made to keep back then. I try to incorporate that mentality in my own designs, to create something that is visually pleasing yet still functional enough to use everyday.

How did you get started running your own business? I started Oh So Retro back in 2004 as a vintage clothing boutique. I had been sewing my own clothing for years before that and took that knowledge into my reselling business by altering vintage clothing and doing custom sewing jobs. I began making matching bags out of the salvaged fabric from floor length gowns and much-too-small tweed skirts and soon enough the bags started outselling the clothing! I knew I was on to something good, and worked on creating my own line of bags and accessories. I was selling well from my own website and did some local consignment but things really took off for me once I started selling on Etsy.com. I'm really happy to have found my home on there.

Who are your favorite designers? The Vintage Zoo does some amazing things with her own brand of vintage + handmade clothing. Nice Face makes the cutest tunics I have ever seen. SRB Designs by Miss Bohl designs the most gorgeous clothing. I want everything.

What are your top fashion & beauty must-haves? It`s hard to be fashionable in the winter, but I try! Right now I`m loving skinny jeans and tunics paired up with bolero sweaters for a little extra warmth. I love flat shoes and I have an amazing pair of mary jane flats from Stops And Starts. I've been using a lot of extra large shoulder bags and still wear my over sized Jackie O sun glasses. I`m very simple when it comes to make up, just a touch of mascara and lip gloss. I use a great lip gloss from The Plaid Mushroom. Thanks to her I've not had chapped lips once this winter!

Know of a favorite independent handbag designer that you'd love to see recognized and rewarded for their work? Let them know about the open call for entries for the Second Annual Independent Handbag Designer Awards, sponsored by Handbag Designer 101. The categories for this competition are Best Student Made Handbag, Best Handmade Handbag, Most Socially Responsible Handbag, Best Green Handbag, Audience-Selected Handbag, and Best Handbag in Overall Style & Design. There are some great prizes up for grabs for the winning designers, including a free booth at the MAGIC accessories tradeshow in Las Vegas this August, an apprenticeship with the Henri Bendel accessory design team and more.

Okay, okay, so chances are that you're probably not a handbag designer, but maybe you're just a lover of purses? Handbag Designer 101 is still a great resource you can use to read interviews with up and coming bag designers, stay up to date on the latest trends in handbags, chat about your handbag must-haves, get your celebrity bag watch fix and find out about handbag related events and deals.

Speaking of deals on handbags, I just got word from my friends at Accessory Bug about their special discount offer for spring. Get 10% off on any order through April 30, 2008 by using coupon code spring08 at checkout. They've got the infamous "I'm not a plastic bag" handbag in four different color choices, plus a huge selection of clutches, hobos, totes, wristlets and other accessories.

The following is part of an ongoing segment I call Indie Designer Interviews.

Tell me a little about yourself and your company. I'm Wendy, the owner, operator, designer, model, seamstress, copy editor, accountant, ad rep, pin pusher, house keeper, material sourcing researcher, etc. of Moop. Moop is a small company (myself and my husband) devoted to well designed and fabricated handmade bags. We're working really hard to grow Moop into something that will last a long long time. I feel like I'm in a unique position to take advantage of the attention and energy surrounding Moop to keep this going with a focus on sustainability (80% of every bag comes from up-cycled materials left over from major manufacturers and fabric wholesalers) and fair labor (as we grow we're committed to keeping things here in house, not outsourcing to fabricators).

How did you get started as a designer? I started this business before I knew it would even be a business. I was a teenage single mom looking for a way to make clothes for my kid that didn't look like every other kid on the block, so I bought a sewing machine and taught myself to make things. 10 years later, armed with two degrees (a BFA and an MFA), a husband, a lovely 10 year old girl, a cat named Mouse and a really big sewing machine, I started Moop with one pretty alright bag. That bag has since become a really great bag..refined, honed, modern, understated and really well made.

Who are your favorite designers? I love Built by Wendy (there's no relation). Last season she had this cotton ripstop shift dress that I was completely in love with. I finally decided to order one, only to find they were sold out in my size and every size close to it. I've been thinking of it ever since. So, maybe in a weird way, that dress influenced some bags. I work a lot with ripstop. I love the subtlety of the grid.

"The monkey is called Paula?" I hope that's written on a tag somewhere, and not just a personal claim from lynne3231.

There's a lot going on here. It's a yellow satchel with turquoise straps, a gradient pattern of green dots that collect at the bottom, a silver star, and a turquoise monkey (named Paula).

This is a Kipling bag, which surprises me. I used Kipling backpacks for years in school and they never looked like this. This bag is like a platypus. It makes you wonder if the creator had been drinking the day it was made. Or maybe the creator was just kidding and is testing us; keeping us on our toes. Or maybe the creator was Paula Abdul?

For what activity is this suitable? I guess you could put your ballet shoes in there or something. The colors make me want to take it berry picking or foraging for herbs, you know, next time I do one of those things, but then it would get all stained. Kipling's insistence on putting monkeys on everything adds insult to injury here. I don't know what to tell you.

WTF.

Over the last few years, True Religion has mesmerized us with their fabulous jeans and signature pockets (and $200+ price tags). The company has now decided to venture into non-trousered territory -- they'll now be offering handbags.

Leslie Hsu, previously with Calvin Klein and Tahari, has brought her talent to True Religion and will use fine hand-dyed cottons and Italian leathers for the line of handbags. The collection is set to include weekend bags, hobos, satchels, clutches, and key chains, all of which will incorporate True Religion's signature look of modern stylings with a bit of Western edge.



As you can probably guess, you're not going to get the True Religion look without the price tag. The Leyla Day Bag, pictured here, will cost you $758 at Nordstrom. Some of the smaller items are set to go for less, with the line ranging from $58 to $898, and the pieces will soon be available at department stores and boutiques the world over.

I don't need these. I really don't need these. I don't need one of these, much less a set of ten.

What kind of CD belongs in a silk brocade bag? I mean, I'm not putting Dark Side of the Moon in there. I want the cover art. Should I keep my latest data backup CD in there? No. Because it's a bag. Bags are soft. Soft as in not proper CD protection. Maybe there's something stiff sewn in there. But still, at what point am I going to have a CD in my possession and go "Oh man, this one's goin' in a bag!"

These bags are only good for CDs that are very special but didn't come with any cover art and you don't mind if they get scratched or broken in half. Maybe if you lost the case for your Joy Luck Club DVD. Maybe.

These bags are good for nothing. Somebody got a little overzealous with the craftiness. Brocade is not for everything people. Brocade has limits.

Simple Shoes are made to appeal to the hippy in all of us. They are made out of all sustainable materials, such as hemp, recycled car tires, organic cotton and bamboo. And no, contrary to popular belief, hemp is not marijuana. To quote the Simple Shoes website, "I mean really, if the hemp we use in our shoes got you high, don't you think we'd have enough money to hire some models for our ads?"

Not only are the shoes made from sustainable materials, but Simple Shoes is committed to making their business 100% sustainable as well.

To do that, they ship with less packaging materials, and use boxes made from post consumer paper or biodegradable bags (you can bury the bag in your garden and forget about it). They even clean their office with biodegradable cleaning products! It's nice to see a company fully commit to a green lifestyle, rather than selling green products just because it's trendy right now.

Some of the styles may be a bit too hippyish for the mainstream fashionista, but I'm telling you, the next time I need comfortable sneakers, I know where I'm going to buy them. As a bonus, they also sell adorable baby shoes, some nice messenger bags and even a laptop bag with a button made out of a coconut!

While maybe not quite on the cutting edge of fashion, they still have some very cute, very basic shoes. You won't find any four inch stilettos at Simple Shoes. But, you will find great flip flops and sneakers that are easy on the eyes and easy on the conscious, for those of you more environmentally aware types.

Browse through the gallery, and if you like what you see, head on over to their to buy shoes and support a great company!

For $26,000, I'd want a bag that could fly, do my taxes, or at least make my coffee in the morning. Sadly, the new "Warrior" bag from Burberry does none of those things. And yet, it's still worth significantly more than my car.

Sure, it's trendy-looking, has a nice shape, comes complete with armor plating and is cut from gold-painted alligator skin -- all of which should send up the price a little. But $26,000? Seriously?

And this isn't the only bag with a jaw-dropping price tag. In fact, compared to some, the Warrior is actually a bargain. That said, even if I had the money, I'm not sure I could justify spending that much money on an accessory I'd probably be bored with in less than a year. But maybe I'm missing something?



[via Jezebel]