Chanel has banned the use of exotic animal pelts in its collections. The brand removed Python skin bags from its website recently although secondhand bags were still on sale from online resale sites. Its handbags made from them reportedly sell for up to $10,300. Animal rights groups welcomed the move, with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) hailing Chanel as giving a lead to other luxury brands.

Although top fashion brands have been under heavy pressure to renounce fur, with Gucci, Armani, Versace and John Galliano all deciding to go fur free, Chanel's decision to stop using exotic skins came as a big surprise. Animal rights campaigns against the use of crocodile and snake skin products have not got the same traction with the public as similar crusades against fur, with some luxury brands even investing in reptile farms so they can guarantee that skins are sourced ethically.