Quirky designer Bo Carter has been named Most Talented New Designer of the Year, in the first ever PETA awards for animal friendly fashion.
The award for her colourful vegan clothing is now guaranteed to springboard her to the international fashion stage.
Celebrity judges at the awards included designers Sadie Frost and Meg Mathews, who helped select the winning designs.
Former accountant turned designer Bo, who has her own store in Leeds the Bo Carter Boutique at Central Arcade, orginally comes from Poland.
She is best known for her bright, playful designs and her refusal to use fur or leather.
Bo, 33, said: “Words can’t describe how thrilled I am to receive this award from PETA. I actually cried with joy when they told me I’d won.
“I’ve always believed that compassionate fashion is the way forward and PETA’s Awards prove that shunning animal skins and embracing pleather, micro-suede and faux fur has never been more on-trend.”
She admits her designs are “a bit different”.
Other winners include Vivienne Westwood for Most Stylish Handbag, Ted Baker for Most Stylish Men’s Bag, Stella McCartney for Most Stylish Women’s Shoes and H&M for Most Stylish Men’s Shoes. Now, PETA – with the help of Sadie Frost and Meg Mathews – is recognising the best cruelty-free contributions to the fashion world in the first-ever PETA-Approved Vegan Fashion Awards.
The awards mark the launch of PETA’s new logo, which designers and retailers can use to identify vegan clothes and accessories that they sell online or in stores.
Designer Sadie Frost, the founder of popular fashion and lingerie line Frost French, said: “My two greatest passions are fashion and helping animals, so I was thrilled when PETA asked me to help judge their fashion awards.
“It’s phenomenal how many retailers and top designers are using pleather, micro-suede and faux cashmere in their collections, and the quality is amazing.”
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