An environmental project in Florida is turning the skins of invasive Burmese pythons into high-end handbags, aiming to tackle the snake's devastating impact on the Everglades ecosystem. The venture, led by Tampa-based Inversa Leathers and New York accessory brand Piper & Skye, transforms python skins into colourful designer bags priced at nearly $1,000.
The Burmese python population in the Everglades has soared to an estimated 150,000, preying on native wildlife such as white-tailed deer and rabbits, according to a US Geological Survey report. Co-founder Aarav Chavda acknowledged the scale of the challenge: 'Pythons in the Everglades is such a colossal problem... we know we’re not riding in with a silver bullet.'
The process begins with hunters tracking and humanely killing pythons, which can grow up to 20ft in length. Inversa processes and tans the skins, which Piper & Skye then crafts into handbags. The project builds on earlier success transforming invasive lionfish into sneakers with Italian shoemaker P448. 'How a product is made, what it’s made of, and the people who make it are just as important as the product itself,' said creative director Joanna MacDonald.
Inversa uses a bounty system to incentivise low-income fishers in the Caribbean to catch lionfish, a model adapted for python hunters in Florida. Chavda expects the number of pythons caught to increase as consumers learn the story behind the bags. 'What we’re trying to do is bring attention, focus and the power of the consumer... on a very specific problem,' he said.
Florida wildlife authorities have tried various methods to control pythons, including an annual hunting challenge, a python-sniffing dog, and even snake catchers from India. However, the population continues to spread. The USGS describes it as 'one of the most intractable' invasive species challenges globally.
