What Is The True Cost of Fashion? Part 1
We love our celebrities. But have we ever wondered where the things they wear—clothes and jewelry—come from and what their average price might be?
Luxury fashion items that our celebrities wear are usually made from exotic wild animal skins and bones and often range from tens of thousands to over a million dollars, especially specific high-profile items. One such example is the Pharrell Williams-designed $1 million Louis Vuitton "Millionaire Speedy" bag, representing the highest end of this market. Diamond-encrusted crocodile-skin Birkin bags have also fetched up to $380,000 at auction or more!
In Part 1 of this two-part series on this vital subject, let’s consider some key price data and examples
Crocodile/Alligator Skin Goods: Crocodile skin corsets and handbags are highly prized, with a single handbag often requiring the skin of three to four crocodiles.
Designer Bags: A designer snakeskin bag can cost three times more than one made from cow leather.
"Millionaire" Items: A crocodile-skin "Millionaire Speedy" bag designed by Pharrell Williams for Louis Vuitton was valued at $1 million.
Shahtoosh Shawls: Scarves made from the often illegally traded wool of the endangered Tibetan antelope (chiru) can cost up to US$20,000. They are banned in India.
Illegal Wildlife Trade: A 2014 report on illegal, seized fashion items found that some products, such as ivory items, could be worth over $1 million, while individual items made of illegal skins (python, alligator) were frequently imported at high prices.
Trends and Context
Celebrity Influence: Celebrities like Rihanna, Kendall Jenner, and others have recently been spotted wearing real, high-end fur, with some coats retailing for over $27,000.
Market Growth: Despite increased awareness, the high-end fur industry is still a massive market, with reports suggesting it is worth tens of billions of dollars.
Legal vs. Illegal: While many brands now use farmed exotic skins (like alligator) to avoid illegally trafficking endangered species, critics argue that the demand for these "expensive" materials still drives the cruel treatment of wild animals.
Secondhand Fur: Many influencers and celebrities are turning to secondhand, "vintage" fur as a more accessible, yet still expensive, alternative.
What are the adverse effects on wildlife due to celebrities around the world wearing expensive clothes?
The demand for expensive luxury clothing by celebrities, when featuring animal-derived materials, has significant adverse effects on global wildlife. Celebrity influence amplifies trends, leading to increased poaching, habitat destruction, and the cruel exploitation of endangered species for items like exotic skins, fur, and feathers.
Some of the adverse effects include:
Exploitation of Exotic Species: Millions of crocodiles, alligators, lizards, and snakes are killed annually for high-end handbags, belts, and shoes, often through inhumane farming methods or illegal poaching.
Endangerment of Wildlife: The demand for rare animal products—such as Tibetan antelope for shahtoosh shawls or specific reptiles for luxury leather—threatens the biodiversity of vulnerable ecosystems.
Rise in Wildlife Trafficking: Celebrity endorsements and the resulting demand for luxury "it-bags" often link fashion houses to the illegal wildlife trade, with high-value, protected species frequently seized at ports of entry.
Horrific Animal Cruelty: Investigations have shown that reptiles are sometimes skinned while still alive, and other animals, such as ostriches, are subjected to cruel, cramped farming conditions before being killed for their feathers or skin.
Normalizing Animal Exploitation: The glamorous presentation of these items by influencers and celebrities masks the brutal reality of their production, driving continued consumer demand.
Environmental Damage: The production of luxury leather, in particular, is linked to environmental damage, including contributing to deforestation in areas like the Amazon.
Note: While some industry proponents argue that regulated trade in exotic skins can promote conservation and habitat protection, many conservationists and animal welfare organizations argue that the overall impact, including illegal trade and welfare violations, is overwhelmingly negative.
After mulling over these facts, just wonder what these numbers would look like if we also added the clothes and jewelry that ordinary women wear throughout the world. Although they may not be as expensive as those worn by celebrities, they too add to the figures.
So, what price are the denizens of our planet paying? Take a moment to reflect.
We will continue our discussion in part 2 in next month’s blog.
Did You Know?
Animals Used and Types of Jewelry
1. Elephant Ivory: Still the most smuggled "bone-like" material, used for carved pendants, bracelets, and rings.
2. Helmeted Hornbill Casque: A rare rainforest bird in Southeast Asia, its solid helmet-like bone casque is carved into incredibly expensive beads and pendants, often sold as "red ivory."
3. Tiger Bones and Teeth: Used for amulets, bracelets, and necklace pendants. Tiger teeth are particularly common in the illegal market, sometimes sold via social media.
4. Whale Ivory and Teeth: Used in Hawaii for carved hook pendants.
5. Sea Turtle Shell: Used for bracelets, rings, and inlays in necklaces.
6. Bear Claws and Teeth: Used in necklaces and rings, frequently sold illegally even when poaching is restricted.
7. Dinosaur Bone, "Gembone": While not technically modern, illegal trade in fossilized bone poached from federal lands is rampant, often carved into pendants and rings.
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