Sibaritísimo The fever for exotic skins

It is curious that, despite being immersed in a still deep economic crisis, one of the only sectors that, not that it has not been affected but has also increased its sales, has been the luxury industry. And this affects not only international fashion and cosmetics firms, but the same thing happens with accessories and more specifically with high-end bags.

Perhaps the answer must be found in the fact that precisely the economic recession has reinforced this type of craft products that are not very subject to fashion. Also its timeless and iconic character causes the consumer to opt for the highest quality leathers when buying accessories, because it is considered an investment, not a whim.

The truth is that for a few seasons, clothes, shoes, bags, wallets and clutches made with exotic skins such as python, ostrich or crocodile have reigned on all the world's catwalks.

And not only that, in countries like Spain and in other parts of the world, different handbag and accessory firms have proliferated that have specialized in designs made with the most expensive, exotic skins. In fact, ostrich skin items, along with crocodile and python skins, are at the top of the most sought-after items in the luxury goods sector.

Among these Spanish firms, the following stand out: Vega Cárcer, Garín, Amber D'Luxe, Makara and Mbubag.

Vega Cárcer or rather, the firm of the Valvanuz and Mónica Abascal sisters, the latter being the daughter-in-law of José María Aznar and Ana Botella, specializes in the design of crocodile bags and accessories.

Its business philosophy is to offer personalized luxury bags, in which the choice of colours, linings and hardware is the responsibility of the customer, thus creating a product that is unequivocally theirs.

The price of the bags is from about 3,000 euros.

Garín is mainly dedicated to bags made from python skins.

Behind the firm is the designer María Garín. Python skins are tanned in Spain and dyed with natural dyes in vibrant colors.

The skins are soft and very pleasant to the touch, and thus she achieves that in her bags and wallets, the beauty of the skin prevails over any other artifice.

Amber D'Luxe is a firm located in Córdoba. Its offer combines the best cowhide, snake and crocodile skins, and offers very few units of each of its models. All their bags are manufactured entirely in Spain by a team of expert craftsmen.

Makara is a brand that is located in Madrid and is specialized in the manufacture of python bags. Their bags are unique, they are worked one by one, that is why they do not have stocks and are made at the request of each client.

On its website, it informs that python skin is a natural material and, therefore, possible scars and/or variations in tone are a guarantee of its authenticity. For this reason, the tonalities of the snakes can vary in accentuation or decrease in both the tone and the drawing on the scale.

And finally, Mbubag is a brand based in Madrid whose alma mater is Águeda Marchante. All its bags and accessories are made in exquisite ostrich skin in a handmade and personalized way.

The skins come from certified African farms, which are tanned and manufactured entirely in Spain.

The firm offers personalized bags both in the model and the color of the leather, as well as in the quality and color of the linings, in the finish of the closures and hardware, as well as in the stamping of the initials inside.

And what do these skins have that others don't? Apart from their exoticism, they have qualities such as beauty, exclusivity, design, high quality, craftsmanship and durability.

To focus a bit, I am going to talk about these skins and their characteristics.

The crocodile is often confused with the lizard and the caiman, although they are similar, there are significant differences between them.

Crocodile skin is the most valued in the world. Its high price is due not only to the limited number of licenses for its importation or to how expensive customs duties are on exotic materials, but also to the quality of the skin, the difficulty of finding it since it comes from the best and most exclusive tanneries. Its value is not calculated per kilo or per meter, but per centimeter.

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The manufacture of a crocodile bag is absolutely handmade and, furthermore, it is a very difficult skin to work with. Until a few years ago, this leather was only available in the colors black, brown and beige, since no one dared to dye it. However, it is now found in a wide variety of colors, from the palest to the strongest.

Broadly speaking, two types of crocodiles are distinguished. The Niloticus is of African origin and due to its resistance, durability and beauty it is one of the most valued skins in the manufacture of shoes and leather goods.

And the Cayman also has great originality and beauty but is of South American origin.

For generations it has been a favorite in the market for exotic skin products.

It has a great versatility to make briefcases, belts and boots.

The skin called Coco-Lizard is a unique product, which has all the beauty of genuine crocodile skin at a lower price. This leather is covered with a special paint that gives it a shine, it is waterproof, it is also the easiest to clean and it has greater resistance.

Python is a smooth skin with scales, which has become a favorite in the fashion industry. Perhaps it is the most sophisticated and exquisite of all exotic skins. Its touch is soft and delicate, and it is known for its great variety of colors and flexibility.

It becomes prettier over time as its scales open naturally and the skin becomes softer and more pliable. There is no doubt that a python skin bag improves over time and instead of losing its natural beauty, it is perfected, so the true beauty of this skin can only be appreciated through the years.

Ostrich skin is considered one of the most appreciated exotic skins, thanks to its softness and its pearl effect due to traces of the bird's plumage, which gives it beauty and originality, as well as being an extremely flexible skin, resistant to water and, therefore, durable over time.

Another important element to consider is that ostrich skin is more receptive to the dyeing process, which makes it possible to obtain more than 100 different shades of color.

The most valued skin of the ostrich is the leg, which is very expensive because it has a texture similar to viper skin. This leather is unique as it is made up of a natural line of scales.

How are bags made with exotic skins cared for?

Crocodile, python, lizard, ostrich skins... are very delicate and require special care to preserve their shine and beauty over time.

To maintain the natural shine of these leathers, it is enough to wipe them with a dry white cotton cloth. Although there are products that are sold to clean them, it is better not to use creams, since they can spoil the finishes, especially the gloss and metallic.

Never leave the bag exposed to moisture or direct sunlight, as in both cases the leather could be damaged. For example, in areas exposed to the sun, a change in tone may occur, and the skin may dry out and even crack.

If the skin gets wet, wipe it with a dry cotton cloth and let it finish drying in the air.

You have to keep it away from any heat source because the skin dries out and can open and crack.

It is very important to prevent any type of alcohol or any liquid from coming into contact with the bag. If this happens, the surface must be dried immediately to prevent the skin from absorbing the spilled liquid.

If a bag is not going to be used for a while, it is advisable to fill it with paper or another soft material so that it does not lose its natural shape.

And finally, you should never hang the bag if it has weight inside, it is better to leave it resting on a surface.

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