Here are some reasons why the alligator leather trade thrives:

• It’s a timeless luxury – Alligator is to leather what diamonds are to jewelry; it’s always had high value luxury appeal. Many have had alligator leather pieces and antiques handed down to them from grand parents and great grandparents. Whereas most of the world thinks of cowhide when they say “leather”, an enthusiast knows that
• It’s easily recognizable – In fact, it’s so recognizable, that there is an entire market for fake alligator leather goods like purses and accessories, usually made of cheaply made thin plastics and colored to have the appearance of real alligator.
• It’s the most popular Exotic leather – In the United States, there is no more popular exotic leather than Alligator. There are many places outside of the U.S. where it’s also popular, creating a popular and high dollar export for the United States.
• The alligator population is thriving and well managed – Back in the 1970’s, alligators were endangered due to over-farming and lack over conservation oversight. After conservation was put into place, alligator farms sprung up across the Southeast United States and the populations have recovered dramatically, increasing the populations nearly threefold in a little over two decades.
• Alligator skin has diversity – alligator can be crusted, tanned, and finished, can be custom dyed and finished in any color. It can be glossy or matte, increasing the likelihood that a production artist can find the colors and fashion of genuine alligator that enhances the creativity and artistry of a finished application.

1)      Size and orientation of the hide – What is the cut of the hide?  How large is it?  Most tanned alligator hides are between 5 – 7 ft in length when harvested from an alligator farm, which is more consistent and better quality than wild alligators.

2)      Grading of the Hide – Does the hide have scratches, holes, scars, tears, etc?  Natural/wild animals will always have natural blemishes and inconsistencies that add character to some applications but may be undesirable in others.  A higher grade skin will be free of these defects that can result either from the animal’s life in the wild or an error in the tanning process.  Tanneries never like to waste materials and may tan lower grade alligator hides, but they are typically cut and the best pieces are separated and are perfect for smaller applications like wallets and belts.

3)      Size of the Tile - An alligators “tiles” (or scales) will grow with the size of the alligator.  Alligators will shed their scales, which grow over time.  Larger animals produce larger hides with which larger cuts can be created.  However, these larger animals also have larger tiles which can hinder applications that may not express the alligator pattern often desired in finished goods.

4)      Finish and coloring – is the finish and color consistent? – This is especially important with large production orders.  A good tannery and/or exotics broker will always inspect the skins for color accuracy when they are dried and finished before the final shipment to the broker and/or customer who placed the order.

5)      Is it a belly cut or a back cut? – Each cut will have a different texture and appearance.  A “back cut” features a row of horns along the sides of the hide and features the smoother belly in the middle.  A “belly cut” is cut down the middle of the belly of the alligator, with the smoother belly skin along the side and the row of thicker horns down the middle.  A “belly cut” produces a “hornback”, which a “back cut” produces the smoother textured belly down the middle.

Here’s a story about an alligator farmer for Savoie’s Alligator Farm in Louisiana, who is struggling to find a purchaser for alligator leather hides: Alligator Farming Struggles Along With Economy.

Louisiana’s swamps and bayous are the ideal natural environment for alligators, where they thrive naturally. The skins are shipped through distribution chains through wholesalers and globally to production artists who craft fine alligator purses, handbags, wallets, belts, and other exotic luxury merchandise. Alligator farming produces over $60 million dollars annually, and the best farmers sell tens of thousands of wholesale alligator leather hides each year but sales have all dried up – when times are tough, the market for exotic skins dries up as well.

This news isn’t without a silver lining for both the farmers and for the investors, manufacturers, and production artists: Lower demand means higher supply, which often means lower prices for larger bulk orders if going through direct channels. Alligator leather is a luxury commodity that is always affected by supply and demand. With all of the hides ready to be tanned, for someone who can make the investment, now is a good time to invest in alligator leather – it has and will remain the luxury leather lover’s leather.

First, you should know what real alligator skin feels like and smells like.  Any “alligator leather” or “crocodile leather” should feel leathery – if it feels artificial or plastic, it is probably not the finish, it probably IS artificial or plastic.  Real alligator hides are thick and denser than the fake alternatives.   Give it a good smell as well – does it smell fishy/swampy or like tanning chemicals?  If it doesn’t have a smell or a very light smell, it is probably not real leather.

Is it shiny? – This is not a 100% determining factor since many tanneries have alligator leather finishes that are shiny and colorful, but if it has a very bright artificial-looking shine, it is probably not real.

Check the brand and the label - High-end brands will almost always use genuine alligator leather.  A cheap brand or products from retailers like Target or Wal-Mart are going to be faux alligator leather.  See if there is a label present on the bag somewhere that tells you if its genuine or not.

Does it look natural? - Even the highest grade genuine alligator leather will have slight inconsistencies and imperfections.  With close examination, you can see uneven scales and maybe slight scarring or bumps.

If you still can’t tell if it’s fake or not, find a part of the questionable alligator leather  and put a little cold water on it.  (You don’t have to soak it!)  Let the water sink in, let it sit for a little bit.  When it’s sat for awhile, give it a whiff; if there’s an odor, the alligator skin is likely genuine.

When all else fails - Contact a professional Exotic leather specialist or bring your piece to a retail outlet where alligator leather is sold.  A professional leathermaker or salesman should be able to tell instantly if your alligator skin is genuine or not.

Almost anything you can craft from cow leather can be crafted from alligator leather, granted it has been properly cultivated and tanned.  With many options available for tanning, refining, and processing of the actual alligator hide, you can create things in almost any shape, size, texture, and color.

The most popular items (in order) from our experience are:

Alligator Handbags – Many high-end brands and fashion designers implement crocodile or alligator leather into their designs.  Typically the largest, highest grade belly-sided hides are used because handbags require large pieces of a hide and the lower grades will often have a little scar tissue that is unacceptable for high-end merchandising.

Alligator Boots and Shoes – Attractive and highly durable leather shoes and boots are among the most popular products sold.  Alligator hide cowboy boots are very popular in the Midwest and Southern United States.

Alligator Belts – Alligator skin belts come in all colors, lengths, and thicknesses.  They are either designed by stitching together pieces of hides, one long strip of hide (much more expensive for a single piece), or even the entire tail.

Alligator Wallets – Most wallets are assembled using the best smaller pieces of lower-grade hides.  However, higher-grade hides often yield exceptional production since the quality will allow for more and better cuts.

Alligator Luggage / Cases – High-end luggage, totes, and briefcases are popular exotic alligator leather products.  Crafting luggage with alligator can be costly since the production often requires extra large crocodile hides of the highest quality available, free of most natural defects such as scar tissue, holes, and imperfections.

Alligator Upholstery – Upholstery is a popular use and with the cost of Alligator Leather, it is reserved for very high-end applications, typically commercial or custom car interiors.  Often, alligator leather is used as trim to accent another application, such as a more common leather.  This is a cost-saver, especially since with trim you can often cut and piece the leather together for a near-seamless appearance.

Alligator leather jewelry – Smaller applications of alligator leather are usually in jewelry such as key rings, wristbands, and other small pieces that can use lower-grade quality cuts of leather.  However, some high-end designers still want to be sure they’re getting the best quality, and even with a high-grade extra large alligator hide, it is possible to craft many great looking pieces.

Our recommendation when sourcing exotic skin such as alligator leather is to find a reliable exotic leather supplier who  can answer all of your questions about the material, understands all of the restrictions and laws surrounding the trade of that particular species, and has relationships with the tanneries and farmers who produce the skins.  This relationship gives you the best price and quality, saving you lots of time and money.  If you are looking to source crocodile skins for large-scale production and/or contract manufacturing, fill out our alligator inquiry form so our global supplier of Exotic leather can contact you.

A genuine alligator leather hide is one of the strongest and most dense materials for leathercrafting.  As alligators grow, their skin becomes increasingly thick, making them an ideal predator in the wild with few competitors, especially within rivers and streams.  They are lightning-quick, instinctual to attack, and can sense movement in the water with their acutely tuned senses.

However, this thick skin is hardly safe from bullets.  The safest part of the alligator would probably be the bony plates under the skin, which would serve as a shield to protect its very delicate insides.  A large, full-grown gator however could probably survive a shot from a smaller caliber gun but it is unlikely that it could survive a shot from a larger weapon; it will take a powerful shot and maybe multiple shots to take a full size alligator down.    And a tanned alligator leather hide?  Not a chance.   Alligator skin is definitely not designed for bullet protection and shooting a bullet at it will puncture a hole right through!

In regards to leathermaking and food, bullets are not the ideal way to obtain its meat and hides since the bullets will often ruin portions of both – guns are often used against alligators but only when someone’s life may be in danger or ignorant and uneducated hunters!