Q & A

Are all of the exotic skins you stock and offer 100% genuine?

Rojé Leather only supplies genuine exotic skins, compliant with all international laws and regulation and in accordance with CITES and U.S. Fish and Wildlife regulations. We have built our reputation over the last decade on that of trust, integrity, and quality.

I want a better price; I don’t want to pay retail.

Exotic skins are a commodity like wheat, chicken, oil, gas, and sugar. As such, the economics of exotic leather experience the same supply/demand fluctuations. Demand within the United States and abroad is a key point in the price of any exotic leather. Some examples of major factors that change supply and demand in the exotic leather industry are similar to any raw resource:

1. The price of meat (as leather is often a by-product).
2. Seasonal changes that affect the production of leather, or the demand for certain leathers
3. Fashion trends and consumer demand.

Rojé does not discriminate between the first-time customer and the long-time established customer – we work with each individually to determine the production requirements, yield in leathers, and availability of that leather in the desired color and finish.

I want to produce a product in exotic leather. How does sampling work?

Sampling is referred to as a fair wholesale price with limited availability so our clients can prepare their prototypes and samples to solicit production orders. Our sampling price is based on 30 plus collective years of experience in supplying designers and manufactures materials for their line and project.

The purpose of sampling is for a production artist to first ensure they want to use the material, and secondly to ensure the color or finish matches the design. Savvy designers will test the marketability of their goods by first producing a sample, market their sample design to potential multiple buyers, and then place a wholesale production order with us in order to receive production-level pricing on skins. This way, profits are maximized and/or justify the price of the finished product for both the artist and the end user.

Our sampling prices are fair and often less than most suppliers. We carefully select the market price based on your needs and a production order rate will never exceed a sampling rate; it is unethical to sell you sampling skins for you to add your love and labor, then to return with buying customers lined up and come back with a higher price than you’ve already paid. It won’t happen with Rojé Leather.

This policy enables us provide excellent, transparent service to our customers for over a decade, including white label supply to popular fashion labels and designers. Consider us for your next project- you may contact us here.

I noticed you don’t have exactly what I’m looking for. Can you do a custom order?

Absolutely. Rojé offers custom colors and finishes for established businesses that have the funds to support the investment of time and money in the custom tanning processes required for our tanneries to produce the finished material. Each species has unique minimum order requirements. A custom color or finish starts at $500 and can cost upwards to $20,000, depending on species, season, and market prices.

For example, here are a few species, minimums, and lead/delivery time.

Our U.S. finishing tannery:

1. Hornback and Belly Caiman // Minimum: 12 skins/per color // Lead time: 14-21 days.
2. Front/Back cut Python with Natural markings // Minimum 8 skins/per color // Lead time: 14-21 days.
3. Back cut lizard 20 skins/per color/Lead time 14-21 days.
4. Ostrich Leg 20 skins per color/Lead time 14-21 days.
5. American Alligator Hornback 4 skins/per color/Lead time 14-21 days.
6. Freshwater Crocodile Belly 4 skins/per color/Lead time 14-21 days.

Our International tannery:

1. Stingray skins, 100 skins/per color. Lead time 30-45 days.
2. Python skins, 50 skins/per color. Lead time 30-45 days.
3. Eel skins, 10/ skins per color, or 50 skin minimum. Lead time 7 days.
4. Hippo and Elephant 200 SQFT/per color. Lead time 30 days.

Do you ship internationally?

Yes. For International Orders, there are special requirements, fees, and permissions to get you the materials:

• Fish and Wildlife Inspection Fee: $89.00
• CITES Re-Export Permit: $149.00 (Billed if there are CITES Skins in your order)
• Meet the minimum Order Requirements. (See below)

Species requiring CITES permits and inspections have a minimum order of $5000. Caiman, Nile crocodile, Freshwater Crocodile, American Alligator, lizard and Python. Timeline: Up to 4 weeks through US Fish and Wildlife.

Hippo and Elephant have a minimum order of 200 SQFT/per color. Timeline: 30 days with direct export from our tannery in Africa.

Can you provide me with your contract manufacturing partner’s information?

We do offer contract manufacturing for clients with a confirmed budget and samples/sketches of a finished product ready. We will contract manufacturing connections with our partners when you have purchased your material with us and have a design ready for production.

I am a creative person and I have a high value concept – how much will it feasibly cost to produce my styles and do business.

We receive requests from entrepreneurs on a daily basis with production ideas, requests, and demands. And while we respect and enjoy doing business with start-ups, the successful ones are easy to spot – they have developed a business plan and have secured funding of at least $10,000 per fashion season to cover costs of material, patterns, and labor. To survive the expenses of production, marketing, and advertising we typically see success with those who have a minimum of $50,000 to survive two seasons. We do not recommend getting started until you have the above financing in place.

Established brands are often the exception to the rule, since they carry the reputation and always have the financial planning in place to produce their designs in the upcoming season.

Do you provide paperwork or certificates for your skins?

Every exotic skin we import has been cleared by U.S. Fish and Wildlife. For CITES, we have 3-177 re-export documents on file. All CITES full skins you purchase will also have the proper tags attached. NON-CITES species, small pieces, and cut panels do not have tags. Paperwork is only needed for importing and re-exporting skins or products made from those skins. If and when you need to re-export, we can assist you.

I heard exotic leather species are only killed only for their skins, often skinned alive and discarded, is this true?

Exotic leather and skins are an animal product; natural, renewable, and with 90% coming from captive breeding programs and farms worldwide. The exotic leather trade is carefully regulated by international government wildlife departments such as CITES and our Federal US. .Fish and Wildlife. Rojé Leather does not condone, trade, or do business regarding any endangered species or near-endangered species.

Why do you require so much information in order to sell your skins?

When we ask for your pattern sizes, colors, finishes, and amount of material we are validating that you have an idea of what you want to purchase. We do understand that everyone must start from somewhere, however, we are not the starting point in your discovery stage.

As our industry has some level of controversy, we are often called by “social engineers” who aim for us to disclose private information about our business, suppliers and customers. They want to collect this information for unethical purposes; to soliciting products and services or to disrupt business. We are selective of both our suppliers and buyers, and we only discuss business on either end with those we feel choose to do business ethically and honestly.

How do I know your quality, who do you sell to that I would know of?

Our clients separate themselves from other designers who use faux, fake, or embossed leathers or synthetic materials meant to be passed off as the “real thing”.

Our portfolio does not disclose many customers because we respect and safeguard the information of everyone we do business with – and you can rest assured that any information provided to Rojé is held with the utmost confidence.