Oooo yeah. We have croc in Australia. And lots of it and very agressive too.

Furthermore it’s so tiresome to even take care of simple calf/hide leather (what more exotics) esp with the climate of tropical country that I live in – canvas fits my budget and weather.

Harvesting crocs or alligators on a farm is literally breeding to kill – create life and harvest it purely for profit into one of the most lucrative designer house in the industry. The very thought of wearing or carrying something who’s sole purpose in demise was to create an accessory, pretty much takes an uber dive in the guilt department for me. A life is a life, regardless of whether it’s in a farm or in the wild. It’s like saying it’s not okay shoot a stranger on the street but it’s fine to shoot a household member.

There’s a massive difference between using a leather bag derived from cow, where by the meat can be used to feed people as oppose to meat from an animal that isn’t exactly the staplefood for many?

Will they donate the meat to nations suffering from poverty? If they can turn a frowned upon decision into something remotely socially responsible, perhaps it wont be ‘as bad’ as how it’s currently perceived by some.

I don’t know too much about australian croc industry, but the US government regulates all exotics considered endangered in the US.

North American Alligators are farmed and hunted, proceeds from both farming and hunting go toward preserving alligator’s natural habitat. It’s actually very human to perserve a natural asset like our wildlife. To control overly dominant species to preserve a balanced environment. If Alligator weren’t hunted Florida, Lousiana and Georgia would be overrun with alligators. Alligators are not nice, after all they’ve existed since prehistoric times. They’ll be here long after we’re gone.

To hunt alligator you have to buy a license, the proceeds from hunting licenses goes toward support their habitat. Farms have to return a percent of eggs to the wild. I have tried alligator in a restaurant in Florida (it tasted like chicken). I have seen alligators on the golf course and in backyard pools. It’s good to control the alligator population, I’m sure children would make a nice snack for an alligator.

Ostrich meat is a staple in S Africa. The skins are a by-product, ostrich is not considered an endangered species. I can’t speak to the snake or lizard industry, but considering both are from areas where people eat anything that moves, I doubt the meat goes to waste. What’s wrong with people making a living off a by-product of the food chain?

I’m obviously not a PETA fan

On the other hand I find this approach to obtain more crocodile leather much better than resorting to less controllable methods say, poaching.

Perhaps Hermès should make a stand for their luxury brand and reassure their customers that the leather is produced ethically. Producing the leather ethically will of course result in higher costs but after all, pricing is no longer a concern when it comes to these types of goods.

If I am going to purchase an exotic bag, I want to know:
1. that the wild population of those animals was not detrimentally impacted.
2. that the animal was raised and housed appropriately in life, and killed humanely.

I think Hermes having it’s own farm allows them to closely monitor all of these things. I would have much more confidence purchasing a handbag from a company like this, then taking a chance on something I don’t know the provenance of.

I think the argument that exotics are different from cow because we assume the cow is eaten is laughable. Slaughter for meat and slaughter for a hide may be combined in some instances, but they are too different things.

And when the eat the meat of an animal slaughtered for a lambskin bag? that’s veal. which most people who eat meat and wear leather find objectionable.

For a serious animal rights organization, check out the SPCA or the Humane Society.