Crocodile, Elephant, Ostrich, Snake, & Stingray Skin and hides have all been used to make unique accessories. Everything from belts and wallets to handbags, shoes and Briefcases while most people are happy with Cow leather many discriminating buyer’s now seek out and want exotic skins.

Each one of these skins or hides has their own characteristics that make them very different and affect the finished product. Many major designer brands have turned to exotics skins and hides to product some of the most expensive accessories made today in the world.

In most cases the number of hands these products must pass through before the retail make is very great. With each dealer who touches the product adding another percentage to the finial cost of the items.

EBay provides a service by allowing buyers and sellers to come together and cut out many of these middle men form the process. Purchasing fine accessories like Crocodile briefcases here on eBay results in the buyer being able to get cases that retail for several thousand dollars for while under the normal wholesale importers prices on these items.

Exotic Skin Briefcases

As an American living in Thailand,  I have over the last several years been able to build contacts and a network of suppliers for these products. Being able buy direct gives a unique prospective about these items which I will be happy to share here. Below is look at several of the best skins and hides used to make these products that are produced here in Thailand.

Crocodile

For Crocodile Skin Items please click here Mens Belts Mens Wallets Ladies Handbags  Ladies Wallets & Purses

Crocodile is the premier of leathers known for its distinctive pattern and high luster. Exquisite materials Unique, Prestigious, and superb craftsmanship create a product which will stand the test of time with a touch of class. Crocodile skin goods radiate energy of millions of years the crocodiles live on our planet.

Crocodiles are farm raised here in Thailand for meat production, a by product of this farming is the wonderful hides used in the production of high quality items for sale.

Currently there are 23 living species of alligators, crocodiles, caimans, and gharials living in the wild. As late as the year 1971 all 23 species of crocodilian were endangered or threatened. But through the efforts of conservation and farm breeding now , one-third of the species (8) were sufficiently abundant to support well-regulated annual harvests, one-third of the species (8) were no longer in danger of extinction but are not harvested, and one-third of the species (7) remain endangered.

The crocodile skins offered and sold by responsible dealers like myself come from licensed farms that fully comply with all the terms of CITES, and all regulations required by the Government here in the Kingdom of Thailand.

All parts of the hide are used in the production of fine crocodile leather items. The hornback is considered to be the premium part of the skin and is used in the production of briefcases and handbags. Many other items like wallets are made using several areas of the hide. Crocodile skin is very soft, waterproof and will last for many years. The natural oils in the skin act to protect the skin and add to the finish.

Products made from crocodile skin tend to be very expensive, wallets can cost several hundred dollars and large items like briefcases several thousand dollars. But by being here in Thailand, I am able to purchase crocodile items directly from the artist who make them I can deals never before seen on item of this quality. 

Ostrich: The largest Bird on Earth

The ostrich, Struthio camelus, is the world's largest living bird. They are not an endangered species. The ostrich is a flightless bird, but they can run very fast at speeds up to 40 mph. Today ostrich are farmed raised around the world for meat, feather, and ostrich leather production. Thailand is a leader in the farm production of these giant birds.
 
Ostrich leather is exquisite and very exclusive leather, the main body of the hide is distinguished by its tell-tale pattern of quill or feather sockets.  Naturally occurring quill textures provide a distinguished, durable and exclusive look. Unsurpassed tactile strength makes ostrich the strongest and one of the softest leathers available in the world today.

Another area of the hide used to produce great luxury items like wallets is the leg area of the hides. This area has a unique look to it and is highly prized. It is soft to the touch; the leather is both flexible and durable, making it an ideal working material for the manufacture of most leather goods and certainly luxury leather items.

Its durability adds an extra dimension, making ostrich leather one of the chosen materials for fashion in boot making, handbags, wallets, belts and clothing. Leading fashion houses, such as Hermes, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Cartier, Prada and many others choose ostrich leather to exhibit its beauty and its high class status.  Ownership of genuine ostrich leather products is exclusively available for the discerning buyer only.

Ostrich leather offers itself as one of the toughest, but most pliable skins in the world. Full of natural oils, ostrich leather resists drying, cracking and stiffness. No other leather in the world can compete with the unique quill pattern the ostrich leather bears. This, in itself, makes it one of the most expensive leathers in the world today.

Your investment brings with it functionality, style, pride of ownership and enduring quality.  Distinctive and comfortable ostrich leather items are attributes of establishment, wealth and recognition. Elegant and classic they've been in fashion for the last fifty years.

Stingray: The Jewel of the Sea

While many may see Stingray leather as a new items on the market it really is not a new material at all.  Stingray leather has been utilized worldwide for centuries because of its beauty and durability.

During the Golden Age of the Samurai, the armor that protected warriors was made with stingray leather. These wonderful stingray hides are so durable that they seemed to be impenetrable by a sword’s blade of the samurai's warrior.

In the roaring 1920’s stingray leather was at a fashionable peak. It was used to cover everything from furniture to jewelry boxes. Stingray leather has become a new fashion statement trend in the world of leather market. Stingray skin brings a touch of class and style to your fashion accessories. The beauty of the stingray hide is highlighted by the bony remnant of the dorsal fin that resembles a cluster of "pearls". Stingray leather creates a new range of possibilities for all your leather accessories.

Stingray is used to make belts, wallets, handbags, and other accessories.  Stingray leather will endure a much longer life than you have come to expect from the common cow hide leather products. It is by far the most durable leather used in the world. Stingray leather will not burn, break or fray, yet it can be cut with a standard pair of scissors. Stingray leather has become a new fashion statement trend in the world leather market. It brings a touch of class and peerless style to your accessories.

You do not need to worry about moisture damage to the stingray leather accessory, and no special cleaning is required. To clean the stingray leather, simply huff occasionally with a damp cotton cloth to maintain its natural radiance. Stingray skin is also resistant to fire damage.

The stingrays are not just harvested for their hides. They are farm raised in the Gulf of Siam, here in Thailand. The Stingray meat is a delicacy in several Asian countries and the stingray skins have always been a by product of this production.

The leather from the stingray is both beautiful and extremely durable. The natural texture of the ray skin gives it an amazing pearly and beaded like surface that looks astounding and has a unique feel

 Stingray leather is making a return to the fashion world in a brilliant new way. Even though stingray leather items are not meant to protect you from swinging blades today, it is still a lot more durable than the common leather that is available in common retail stores. And with the new ways of tanning and added colors to the hides the uses are now endless.

Snake Skin: Cobra, Python, & Sea Snake

Cobra Snakes: Elapidae (Reptilia: Serpentes)

Cobras are recognized by the hoods that they flare when angry or disturbed; the hoods are created by the elongate ribs that extend the loose skin of the neck behind the cobras' heads. They are found throughout the Thailand, Philippines, Southern Asia, and Africa.

The two most common types of cobras found in Thailand are the King Cobra and the common Asian cobra. King cobras are the longest venomous snake in the world with an average size of 12’ and some growing to 18’. The King Cobra is endangered at this time and subject to cities protection.  The Asia Common Cobra is not endangered and is raised on farms throughout Thailand. The average size of these snakes is around 6’ in length, and some may reach about 12’ but this would be a rare snake.  The common cobra has a hood, with the unique eye mark on the back of it. This mark is used as protection from other animals in the wild causing them to attack the back of the head and not the front were damage could happen.
Cobra skins are among the most prized of the exotic leathers, commanding premium prices in the United States and the West. A single well Asian Cobra Skin will sell for well over $200 dollars. Cobras are harvested in two ways here in Thailand collectors (cobra) hunters go out in the field to hunt them. A common joke is the cobra hunters always return with snakes, or don’t return at all. As the population of people and the demand for development grows these snakes must be removed from former habitat.  The new Bangkok Airport is built over an area that was known as Cobra Swamp. Many construction workers were fed from the meat of snakes collected to clear the area for construction. Since cobras naturally maintain high populations in most Asian countries this type of collection does not hurt the natural population.

The other more popular method today is to farm raise these snakes because of the level of control possible. Farm raising is the best way to go now because the size at harvest is controlled; the color and the skins and meat can be harvested without any damage. I strongly support the use of skins that only come from legal control sources in all my products offered.

The Asian Common Cobra is best suited for use in the making of fine leather goods, the striking hood pattern and light colors are much more interesting than that of the King Cobra. Also the facts that the King Cobra is now threatened mean the limited supply of these great snakes should be preserved and breed until the numbers have increased to a safe level.

Hardwicke's Sea Snake Lapemis curtus

Sea snakes are found in the warm water oceans of the world, the largest numbers are in the Western Pacific, in the seas around Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, and Japan.

These highly poisonous snakes have a unique smooth skin and a flattened tail with a laterally compressed body. They have small, very fine scales that produce a very fine leather grain, making these particular skins highly prized and eagerly sought that make superior leather products.

These snakes are close relatives to the cobra but unlike the Cobra they are found in the sea and have adapted to marine life.  The lungs of the sea snake have become modified to help them maintain buoyancy and to remain underwater for very long periods of time. The specialized flattened tails greatly aid in swimming and special glands are used for disposing of excess salt. They need to breathe air, so they usually are found in shallow water feeding on fish, fish eggs and eels.

They have been carefully handled to preserve their natural patterns and a sophisticated tanning process brings them to life. The resulting Sea Snake Leather is soft to the touch, flexible, smooth and natural; perfect for a variety of accessories including wallets, purses and handbags.

The skin of these snakes is a by product of the harvesting of the Sea snake meat, which is high in protein and Vitamin (A). The gall bladder of sea snakes is highly prized in Far East for medicinal purposes, mostly for curing skin and stomach ailments. I strongly support using and selling only skins from legal farms located within the Kingdom of Thailand.  

Reticulated Python: Python Reticulatus

Pythons can grow to be very large snakes. Because of their large size these animal should be given great respect, some have been found to grow to 9 meters 35 plus feet.  But the average Asian Python will reach only about 5 meters in length. But even at this length of 20 feet they are an aggressive non-social snake that likes to live solitary lives.

Reticulated Python ranges throughout Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippine Islands. They are a member of the Boa family of snakes. They feed on mammals, such as small deer or pigs, constricting and suffocating their prey before ingesting.  In city areas the prey is rats, cats, dogs, and chicken farmers coups.  They have heat-sensitive pits in the labial scales which line the lips and use these to locate their prey.

While by no means a common event their have been a few documented cases of large pythons killing and eating people.  A much more common event is people hunting these snakes to eat the snake meat, which is in high demand to the Asian public. Because of the wonderful pattern on the snake’s skin and its larger sizes, python skins are always in high demand for the making of unique leather goods.

Today to meet the market needs for both meat and hides python are being farmed inside Thailand. Breeders have set up farms and control the grow of the snakes and select when to best harvest them. Pythons are not a endanger snake and are still fairly common in the country side of Thailand.

But as people move in the country side and development of the natural habitat, these snakes are becoming limited in the wild. No ones a 15 foot predator in their backyard.  Through the farming of these snakes their numbers will always remain high and the species will enjoy a continued long life.

If you have any questions or comments, or would like to purchase fine Exotic leather goods,  please go to my eBay Store  Fishinglines

Fishinglines

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