The History and Mythology of the American Alligator
Marcia SherrillLong before it became one of the most coveted leathers in luxury fashion, the American Alligator was part of the wild frontier days of the American South.
Frontier days
Riverboat swashbucklers sold alligator hides along the rivers, and frontiersmen eventually mastered salting them. The hides became the favorite leather for saddles and boots, and in a pinch they could even be traded as stakes for riverboat gambling.
Legends and lore
The alligator became part of frontier lore, including John James Audubon’s legendary 12-foot alligator. Legends abounded about a 22-foot gator, and many a frontiersman began a lifetime love of the American Alligator, even though the pursuit was unregulated and could be deadly.
Many of today’s Fish & Wildlife approved trappers can trace their roots to those early days, when their ancestors were skilled sharpshooters who knew a clean shot preserved most of the skin. Today the tanned hides, known as “crusts,” are tamed and colored by hand.
Today
Federal and state Fish and Wildlife agencies strictly regulate all exotic leathers, and our house is fully compliant. Every American Alligator and Nile Crocodile hide we use carries CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) certified traceability. All of our American Alligator and Nile Crocodile belts are proudly made in our workroom in El Paso, Texas.