John Bartlett Plans Vegan Fashion Future

• NBC's Nell Alk was in attendance to cover the Fashion & Animals event last night, ushering in a fashion week that is sure to be drenched in skins, pelts, hairs and other symbols of so-called "luxury". John Bartlett, the award-winning designer and CFDA Board of Directors member, appeared as a special guest, taking questions and making some inspiring comments and announcements:

“Next time I show,” Bartlett told Niteside, “I want to show a fully vegan collection. I want to make sure there’s intention behind it. Over the past year, I have taken leather out of my collections, I will no longer [use] down and, hopefully by next fall, I will no longer [use] wool."

The John Bartlett Spring 2011 collection that will be hitting the racks soon already features some gorgeous, supple vegan ultra-suede jackets made in NYC, as well as some linen-based denims and organic cottons.