Over the years many of us have had the oportunity to handle a stingray in its natural environment or at any number of wildlife zoos and aquariums. The feel can best be described as touching velvet or suede. Conversely, handling a stingray wallet, handbag or other accessory perhaps can best be described as handling a rock or more precisely pebbles or marbles.

What's going on here? Is this really stingray leather or some man made armor plating? The transformation of the hide from its natural state into leather is dramatic not only in the durability but the visual appearance as well. During the processing and tanning of these unique hides they take on a  strength unmatched by any other leather and a brilliance akin to gemstones. There is nothing else like it in the leather industry and it has taken that industry by storm in recent years.

First, a bit of history. While it has only been in the past 20 years or so that the stingray leather has gained in fashion popularity, its roots in history are deep. Because of its strength and beauty there was even a mystique about it. How could something so strong be so beautiful as well? Was it from the gods? What powers did it possess and could these powers be passed on to the warriors of old who used it on their armament, sword sheaths and handles? Surely anyone who possesed this adornment was invinceable. Stingray leather had the dual power to exude strength and beauty as well. Coveted by samurai masters, noble men and women, even to Napoleon himself, stingray leather had the power to vanquish in battle and to exault at the courts of royalty.

Called now "The Leather of a Million Stars" because of its reflective brilliance in the light, it even contains a "Constellation" as its centerpiece. A natural occurance, and all but unnoticeable in its original state prior to tanning and being dyed, this centerpiece has its dye color ground off, yes ground off, to reveal larger "stars" or pebbles near the center of the hide. It is the true centerpiece of most fashion accessories and with an accomplished artist can even be ground or highlighted as coveted pictoral engravings.

Like almost all leathers of today the hides are a secondary product to the foods harvested first and foremost. Considered a delicacy in many parts of the world, the western markets have embraced the ray meat as an out of season substitute for several other seafoods with scallops being first on the list. To feed a hungry world it is critical that all sustainable resources be utilized. Supermarkets filled and overfilled with abundant foodstuffs are not the norm all around the world. Some populations still hunt and fish to sustain themselves and tan the hides to clothe and adorn themselves. The stingray now joins the fashion industry as one of the latest and most dramatic additions to this renewable tradition. 

 See www.hideoutflorida.com