Alligator leather

Leather is created when an animal skin or hide is chemically treated in a process called tanning to preserve them for long term use as material for clothing, handbags, footwear, furniture, sports equipment and tools.

Alligator leather is not only used due to its durable skin, but also its natural enamel sheen, which is aesthetically pleasing for consumers buying expensive products.

[3] The durability and softness attributed to alligator leather today started when commercial tanning began in the early 1900s in New York, New Jersey and Europe.

1962 was when alligator hunting was closed statewide due to low numbers, the effect of non-regulated harvests.

This was not for long, however, for in 1987, alligators were no more in threat of endangerment due to the cultivation and conservation efforts that led to their numbers gradually increasing again.

[5] Luxury brands prefer the highest grade under belly section of the alligator, as they usually need a large piece of the hide.

Leather use for clothing dates back to 1200BC when ancient Greeks[6] used it as a material as it was durable and helped tackle different climates.

High-end expensive brands use alligator hide for clothing items, most popular being jackets and winter wear.

The process first starts with first obtaining the skin and depending on the final product the leather will be used for; the tanner will choose which part of the animal to use.

The "hornback cut" however is used more for the raised scaly appearance that products such as belt or boot makers desire.

Although it is great for products such as bookbinding or early plate armour due to its softness, when in contact with water, the leather tends to shrink in size, as it is unstable.

The process includes submerging the hide in a toxic slush of chromium salts and chemicals to create a light blue product that is supple and durable.

[15] As a base calculation, tanning one ton of hide creates 20 to 80 cubic meters of polluted water.

The use of chromium salts, acids and toxins have caused the Buriganga River, which runs along Hazaribagh, to turn black.

Due to decomposition, a lack of composting or efficient disposal can cause a lot of disease and unsanitary waste.

[18] The tanning industry not only causes detrimental environmental impact, it also creates many health complications for workers in countries without effective safety regulations and protection standards.

[11] The toxic exposure to the chemicals in tanneries causes skin and respiratory disease amongst workers due to the lack of safety equipment and training.

[19] Tanneries that use chromium increase the chances of workers getting respiratory illnesses and can sometimes lead to lung, nasal or sinus cancer.

[11] The raw hides are also a breeding ground for anthrax left untreated this can be a potentially deadly disease.