Passion for python puts stars at war with animal rights groups

Style never stands still, and this season the super-rich have a new fixation: snakeskin.

Whether on Jimmy Choo shoes or Zagliani bags, scales are adorning autumn's finest accessories, and London department stores have stocked up with record quantities of snakeskin for autumn.

As is so often the case with such trends, they are taking their inspiration from the stars of the screen and the catwalk. For where fashion luminaries such as Jennifer Lopez and Eva Longoria lead, mere mortals clamour to follow.

J-Lo's passion was a metallic python number by Zagliani, an Italian company that injects its skins with Botox for that ultra-soft feel, while Ms Longoria, star of Desperate Housewives, prefers an exotic python tote by Prada. Meanwhile Sienna Miller and Keira Knightley have barely been seen out of their metallic python flats by Chanel.

Harvey Nichols expects its Zagliani bags to be much in demand despite a £1,280 price tag. It has also added new names renowned for their use of snakeskin such as Devi Kroell, the East Coast accessories designer beloved by Sienna. And while a snake debate has kicked off among fashionistas, it's not about the ethics of the trade. It's about whether to opt for python or anaconda.

Tina Craig, who runs the luxury handbag review site Bagsnob.com, recently wrote on her blog: "I am now completely enamoured with anaconda, the big bad cousin of the python with sturdy skin that does not curl or peel."

Although neither snake is on any official endangered-species list, animal campaigners are outraged that exotic skins are making a comeback. Reptile experts warn that fashion houses are threatening the future of many species.

Clifford Warwick, reptile biologist at the Animal Protection Agency, said: "It is an almost entirely unregulated trade where species are pushed to the brink. Only about 10 per cent of reptiles for the skin trade come from any captive source at all."

Mr Warwick said snakes caught in the wild are nailed to a tree and skinned alive, taking days to die.

High price of the snakeskin fad

Golden python belt

VBH, the line created by the ex-president of Valentino, prices this belt at £390

Zagliani bag

A former dermatologist created the ultimate fashion statement: a Botox-injected Zagliani python bag for £1,250

Choo bag

Jimmy Choo's Rio anaconda clutch costs $3,425 (£1,700)

Kroell boots

The US designer Devi Kroell was responsible for Sienna Miller's favourite winter boot, price $1,990

Fendi shoes

A £485 pair of python slingbacks with a platform sole and peep toe tick all the right fashion boxes