Dragonfin leathergoods collection on display in London
US-based Inversa Leathers, whose specialism is to use skins from invasive species to make unusual leathergoods and support conservation, has put one of its first bag collections on display in upmarket London shopping area Jermyn Street.
The bag collection was conceived and made by the Teton Leather company using leather from an invasive species called dragonfin. This fish was imported from south-east Asia to the US but escaped from ponds into the Mississippi during flooding in the 1990s. The dragoninfin has outcompeted native species as it has no natural predators in North America.
Inversa Leathers claims that using dragonfin skin will contribute to protecting up to 150+ native fish and endangered freshwater species, in addition, support the 1.5 million livelihoods that are dependent on the Mississippi river.
The Teton dragonfin leather collection, which was designed by owners Francesca and Zach Ritchie, is currently on display at the Lone Design Club, in partnership with the Crown Estate's ‘Season Of Wonder’ sustainable concept store in London.
