I'm not a PETA person, but I try to by mindful of what I'm purchasing. Wait - who am I kidding? I own a full-length cognac-colored mink and I love it....does that make me a bad person?! Seriously, I don't regularly indulge in the purchase of endangered or mistreated animals, but if you don't like Nancy Gonzalez then we can't be friends. 
Arguably the only designer to consider when talking exotic handbags, Colombia-born Nancy Gonzalez is all about the innovative use of exotic skins from around the globe.
Design Inspiration: "I create bags that celebrate the natural beauty and rich culture of Columbia. Nature is my best accomplice," she says. She was designing handbags before coming to the US and used crocodiles since they were readily available. Part of her trademark is brightly hued bags that buck the traditional black and brown industry norms. "Color is how I celebrate life," she says.
Heritage Craftsmanship: While she has her druthers of manufacturing locations, she chooses to stick to the US (yay!). In addition, the company has chosen to raise and tan their own skins rather than use outside suppliers!
The Numbers: 55,000 bas produced annually - each piece involves nearly 700 employees - takes up to 40 hours to create - for a clutch, the average training is 6 months - or a larger tote, training can take 6 or 7 years!
Technological Innovation: Thank God for technology - it allows the smallest of cuts to be made to the precious skins (such as flowers with patterned petals), but she also send her employees to Germany for training.
Fall Collection: It's a thrown back collection combining modernity and traditional techniques, and is inspired by brown and black colors with shades of cognac, rust and metallic grey (all my favorites!).
