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Hermes Breeds Crocs to Skin for Handbags

By Harry Kimball,  Newser Staff

Posted Jun 8, 2009 4:33 PM CDT

(Newser) – Fashion mainstay Hermes is now maintaining its own crocodile farms in Australia to provide skins for its handbags, Reuters reports. “The world is not full of crocodiles, except the stock exchange!” the French company’s CEO joked, feebly. Hermes’ leather-accessory line, which accounts for 40% of company business, has been the most successful in the economic downturn and has had to add employees.

Hermes produces 3,000 crocodile bags a year, and its exotic-skin bags can fetch nearly $50,000. “It can take three to four crocodiles to make one of our bags, so we are now breeding our own crocodiles on our own farms, mainly in Australia,” added CEO Patrick Thomas. “We cannot face demand. We have massive over-demand. We are limited by our ability to train new craftsmen.”

A Gharial crocodile.
A Gharial crocodile.   (AP Photo)
A Saltwater Crocodile at the Australian Reptile Park in Sydney, Australia.
A Saltwater Crocodile at the Australian Reptile Park in Sydney, Australia.   (Getty Images)
A Hermes handbag.
A Hermes handbag.   (AP Photo)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 27 comments
Rob
Jun 10, 2009 7:50 AM CDT
Gophers have the same purpose as every single other organism in the world, to make copies of themselves. That's it; it's called the biological imperative and we are all subject to it.
Rob
Jun 10, 2009 7:49 AM CDT
You are an idiot, kati. Where do people like you breed? Stop washing your hands so all the bacteria are safe and then they can eat you from the inside out.
Rob
Jun 10, 2009 7:47 AM CDT
I have eaten it on 4 continents.

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