Celine’s latest exotic arm candies will elevate your sartorial prowess

“The exotic variants of the bags are of a higher value because the supply of exotic leathers is much lower. There’s also more expert processing required because unlike normal calf leather, there’s variance in the shapes and sizes of exotic leathers as well as the scales, so the level of skill needed to handle them is much higher,” explains Chan.

To source exotic leathers such as crocodile and lizard skins, Celine partners only with world‐leading tanneries that supply the highest quality of skins. These responsible suppliers go to great lengths to exercise strong control over their supply sources, an essential step to prevent the illegal poaching of these rare species. The funds raised from the controlled supply of the animals are also channelled back into conservation and breeding programmes to ensure the sustainability of the animal populations and to prevent them from going extinct.

This is why it is essential to obtain a Cites (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, an international agreement that ensures wildlife species are not threatened with extinction by trade) document when purchasing products made with exotic skins. “When you travel with your exotic skin bags, be sure you have the right paperwork, which is equivalent to the ‘passport’ of your bag,” advises Matam‐Finn.

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At the apex of the maison’s exotic offerings lie the alluring handbags in crocodile skin, which is the most exclusive and expensive among exotic leathers as crocodiles are protected under the Convention of Washington. The hides of the precious Porosus and Niloticus breeds, valued for their distinct and symmetrical scales, are used in the making of Celine handbags. Prized Porosus skins are used to craft the Celine 16 bags, which feature a structured silhouette to showcase the small, square and symmetrical scales of the most exclusive of crocodile skins to maximum impact. The Niloticus skins, which feature pleasing central scales that are larger in size, are typically used in the maison’s iconic Triomphe bags.

At Celine, the artisans are particularly exacting in the cutting of each leather hide because each skin has its own unique pattern. This is why this process is always done manually, so that the leather pieces on different parts of the bag can be expertly hand‐matched to achieve an aesthetically harmonious look that is still one‐of‐a‐kind.

The leathers are polished to a glossy finish by applying a natural wax on the surface of the skin before they are glazed with a rolling cylinder to achieve a specific look as determined by esteemed creative director Hedi Slimane and his studio. The result: a smooth, elegant texture with an unparalleled appearance and hand feel.

On top of its exceptional appearance, crocodile leather is the most resistant among the exotic skins, with superficial blemishes easily cleaned with a clear, dry and soft cloth. “Crocodile is the most versatile exotic skin you
can purchase as it’s extremely sturdy, making it effortless to use in your everyday life if you choose to,” says Matam‐Finn.

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Celine is also a major player in using lizard skin in the luxury market. This elegant leather, a favourite of Slimane, has a smooth and unique hand feel, and is soft and supple, with closely spaced irregular scales that form a distinct ring pattern. Lizards are wild‐caught but this is strictly controlled by a yearly quota to allow for the effective management and protection of the species as well as its forest environment. Due to the small size, up to seven skins may be required to produce a bag, which requires deep expertise in matching skins to achieve a practically flawless aesthetic.

During Celine’s selective process, only the back cut of the skin—which showcases the belly scales in the middle of the leather—is used for bags such as the Ava, Classic and Triomphe. Flawless skins are always used for the front panels of the bags, while high‐standard quality skins are deployed on the sides to allow for some natural variance to shine through.

With such elevated expressions of artisanal craftsmanship that serve to highlight the beauty of nature, it is no wonder that Celine’s exotic skin bags are distinguished as investment‐worthy fashion luxuries—heirlooms known to withstand the test of time in every aspect.

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