Almost all buckskin sold in the United States is imported from Latin America and Canada. It is used for garments, gloves, and the uppers of high-quality shoes. Alligator skins, though the animals are carefully protected, are legally available through controlled hunting and farming from Latin America, Florida, and Louisiana. The beautifully textured skins are made into luxurious shoes, handbags, luggage, belts, and billfolds. These accessories are also made from the skins of water snakes, lizards, pythons, and cobras.
Kangaroo hide from Australia makes strong, flexible leather for shoe uppers.
Ostrich skin comes from the only bird that provides leather. Its pinkish skin is used for fine handbags and wallets. Many unusual leathers come from seals, sharks, and whales. Synthetics have been used as substitutes for leather in a wide variety of products. These synthetics are mostly materials called polyvinyl plastics.