There was a time when exotic skins were geared exclusively towards the very elite set that could actually afford a crocodile handbag. Unless you were of the class living on Madison Avenue or Avenue Montaigne, there was little chance that you’d ever get to own an exotic anything. Heritage luxury brands like Hermes, Prada, Gucci, and Salvatore Ferragamo dictated the market and, therefore, dictated the customer.

Fashion Seasons Change—

And So Too Do Exotic Leather Customers

Things have come a long way over the last couple of decades. With wealth now skewing younger and the uprise of cool, young brands like The Row, Proenza Schouler, and Off-White picking up steam, exotics have taken a downtown and liberal turn. In an effort to coolify the timeless trend and prey on the influx of wealthy, successful, younger consumers wanting to attain a piece of luxury designed exclusively with their lifestyles in mind, these new designers are subtly (and not so subtly) infusing exotics into their eclectic, youth-driven collections.

Gone are the days that the only exotic fashion item you could invest in was an, albeit tried and true, crocodile handbag. Alligator skin, lizard skin, python skin, ostrich skin and more exotic hides are now being incorporated into ready-to-wear and accessory pieces in all forms.

Let’s give these kids options:

 
Above: The Row Fall 2010, Proenza Schouler Spring 2015, and Off-White Fall 2018
[Images courtesy of vogue.com]

The authority that the youth commands in the luxury market today has urged even the French and Italian luxury houses to design for a younger clientele. While these brands still need to keep their uptown woman in mind, those women no longer make up the entire market. That said, old brands are finding new ways to incorporate exotics in a more playful way - making them more desirable to the younger, downtown set. It’s time to let the kids do the talking. 

 
Above: Bally Fall 2015, Prada Fall 2017, and Miu Miu Fall 2015
[Images courtesy of vogue.com]

Below is a roundup of some of the most innovative takes on downtown exotics:

 Above from left to right: python skin Macbook cover by Jamie Clawson, python skin iPhone case by Michael Louis, caiman skin belt bag by Mabyl, stingray skin bracelet by Brace Humanity