The haute fashion trade has long used leather and fur in their collections to the protest of animal rights activists, but this year the python skin has become the new commodity killed for its fashionable skin which could see the high demand leading to the snake’s extinction.

In Europe, the Spring/Summer 2012 runways saw a wide range of python skin accessories popping up in collections with snake skin emblazoned handbags and clutches in block colours and bright tones.

Louis Vuitton came out with a khaki toned python skin sneaker, retailing for around USD$1530. Barbara Bui, Gucci, Lanvin, Moschino, and Pucci all featured a Python print handbag on their S/S 2012 catwalk.

The high demand for the real deal in python skin bags, shoes and other items has fuelled imports from South East Asian countries where trade regulation is poor and difficult to track, mostly relying on self-regulation. The lack of information about how the python skin chain operates makes the practice unsustainable and the methods used possibly cruel to the animals, according to a report by the International Trade Centre.

The python skin imports seems to be a very lucrative business, with an estimate half a million python skins exported annually from South East Asia in a trade worth USD$1 billion.

While snakes are not really anyone’s best friend, it’s not worth wiping out a species for a couple of expensive handbags.