Vegetarian Star

If you don’t like the way something is, make some noise!

Literally.

PETA has plans to blast the offices of designer Donna Karan with the noise of screaming rabbits in a protest against Karan’s use of rabbit fur in clothing.

And this event is government approved. The group had to obtain a permit from the city of New York that specifies they can’t get loud enough to break her eardrums, but only enough to annoy her.

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We gave you the best vegetarian news stories of 2010. But a lot of anti-veg events made headlines too. Here’s the best of the worst.

10. Johnny Weir ruffles fur feathers during the winter Olympics. It’s bad enough he picks a costume with rabbit fur around the collar. After being criticized, he’s says he’ll “wear fur again” and it’s all just a part of creative expression. Someone hit the ice with his head one time too many while practicing the double-dunce-klutz.

9. Sarah Palin kills caribou on TLC reality show, “Sarah Palin’s Alaska.” Someone who feeds her family potentially lead contaminated meat shouldn’t be criticizing Mrs. Obama’s initiatives to make school lunches healthier. In 2008, she gave an interview while Tom turkey got his head chopped off. In 2010, it’s Rudolph. Easter Bunny, dude, watch your back!

8. Angelina Jolie says secret beauty tip is steak. This is coming from an ex-vegan actress who was too lazy to do her research and learn to eat vegan properly, so she failed, went back to meat, and praised it for giving her that sexy “Salt” look. Would love to see what her heart looks like from all the salt in processed meats.

7. KT Tunstall is vegetarian–except for pig’s blood. Sure, some vegans will cheat and eat grandma’s butter cookies at Christmas. But KT Tunstall discussed in detail how scrumptious black pudding, a congealed “treat” made from pig’s blood, was even though she normally eats tofu and beans. “Suddenly we see” Twilight vegetarian vampire taking a whole new meaning.

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Donna Karan‘s Facebook fan page was taken over by a few animal rights activists yesterday, who logged into their accounts, changed their icons to a big, bold, black letter corresponding to a derogatory statement by the designer and wrote on her wall.

The protest was staged to draw attention to the designer’s decision to use rabbit fur in some of her collections, especially since she has promised to stop using fur in the past.

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Donna Karan is making herself known as the pendulum that can’t stop swinging in the fashion world. She used fur in previous clothing collections and after pressure from animal rights groups like PETA, agreed to remove it from her 2009 line.

However, she’s back again with designs that incorporate rabbit fur, so PETA used the opportunity to protest outside the location of a fundraiser Karan hosted with Michelle Obama, who won’t be wearing any items from the collection. Dan Matthews, senior VP of PETA was quoted by The Gothamist as saying, “We think Donna Karan should take a fashion tip from the first lady, who has officially announced that she is fur-free.”

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Angela Lindvall is the face behind Donna Karan‘s new fragrance, Pure DKNY, which sources vanilla through a fair traded cooperative in Uganda. By obtaining vanilla continuously for the fragrance, Pure DKNY seeks to improve farming and processing conditions in Uganda where the bean is indigenous while providing economic opportunity to the farmers, 60% of which are women.

Combine this humanitarian initiative with an eco-friendly recycled glass bottle and carton packaging made using 100% renewable energy in a carbon neutral facility, the only thing standing between this fragrance and perfection is whether or not Pure DKNY is free from animal products.

Donna Karan fragrances are not tested on animals. But Lindvall wasn’t exactly sure if any animal parts went into a bottle.

“I would hope there are no cat hormones in there,” the model who tries to be more eco-friendly told EcoStiletto.

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Celebrity stylist Tara Smith has launched a line of vegan hair care products in the United States.

The Tara Smith Hair Care Range kicked off a cocktail party with Donna Karan yesterday in New York City.

Besides being free of animal derivatives, the products are also free of parabens, sodium laureth sulphates, glycols, artificial coloring and synthetic fragrances, big no-nos from the Cosmetic Database list due to their possible allergic and other health reactions.

“I think people shouldn’t be nervous and they have to understand that it’s going to feel different because the products don’t contain all of those harsh chemicals,” Smith said of the products, which range from $5.95-$9.95.

Smith has styled locks of celebrities like Demi Moore and the actresses of Sex and the City.

She studied for two years with Dr. Roger Barr, a chemist who lent his knowledge to other animal and earth friendly companies like The Body Shop.

Already a favorite in the UK, the Tara Smith Hair Care range has the slogan, “Tested on film stars, not on animals.”

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Ah, everybody remembers when they received their first letter from PETA asking “Why the hell are you wearing fur?”

Eva Mendes can still recall the year 2003 when she was approached by the group after wearing a fur shawl to the premier of “Stuck on You.”

“You’re an up-and-coming star, and a lot of people are looking at you,” the letter read. “We noticed you were wearing fur and we wanted to bring this to your attention.”

Not only did Eva stop wearing fur, she posed in one of PETA’s anti-fur campaigns and has changed her diet to “mostly vegetarian.”

As the group celebrates 30 years of activism, it’s comforting to know that although fur is being seen as a trend for the fall and winter of 2010 on fashion runways, people in the real world aren’t putting them in their closets.

The Province reports that U.S. mink imports were down 30% in 2009 versus 2008. Demand for alligator and crocodile hides used in handbags and boots dropped 40% worldwide from the first quarter of 2008 to the same quarter of 2009, according to the Associated Press. And last year, the New York Times reported that the U.S. alligator farming business is also on the decline.

Retailers like H&M and Overstock.com have stopped selling exotic skins and designers like Donna Karan, Tommy Hilfiger and Calvin Klein have also pledged to stop using fur in their designs.

To all the activists, PETA supporting or not, congratulations on a job well done and keep it up for the future!

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Although you still have to hit her with snowballs to earn points in the Holiday Snowball Game, Donna Karan has made the announcement that she will not be using fur in her fall 2009 winter or any future collections, according to PETA’s blog.

Congrats to Donna and animal lovers worldwide for a decision to advance the fashion industry. But will this new relationship between Karan and Peter cottontail last?

Pinocchio Giorgio Armani once promised to stop using fur in his collections, but only a little after a year, he reneged, prompting PETA to design an ad of him with a Pinocchio’s nose.

Tim Gunn, personality on “Project Runway”, sent both Donna and Armani a copy of the video he recorded exposing the ugly side of fur farms, with rabbits being skinned alive for their pelts. He’s not alone in the sea of fashionistas who are going against the fur grain, including Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger, and Calvin Klein.

We hope Donna remains in the pack with the more ethical designers. Besides, she’s far too attractive a lady to pin a wooden nose on her for satire, don’t you think?

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