Consider the material shagreen, a leather made from the scaly hides of rays and sharks. Its use can be traced back many centuries to Asian warrior culture, serving both a practical and decorative function on anything from spectacle cases to scabbards. Fast-forward to the 1700s, when the material found its way into upper-class European decor and sparked a trend even among lay people, who began to pound their more accessible leathers with pebbles to imitate the bumpy texture. {DIY was alive and well!} Shagreen gained popularity in the United States in the 1930s as an exotic facet of the Art Deco movement...

NOW. October 24, 2013: shagreen is trending again, this time for a much less exclusive audience. But if shagreen has been prized throughout history for its exclusivity, its durability, and its aesthetic, what happens when two of those are taken away {enter FAUX shagreen!}? All that is left is the aesthetic, which, depending on the quality of the imitation, may range in appeal. On the other hand, what happens if shagreen is harvested irresponsibly? Environmental values and ethics are at stake. Ironically, to shagreen or not to shagreen is just as personal a choice today as it ever was. A "green" purist may appreciate authentic shagreen but be wary of the environmental consequences and therefore avoid it. A pragmatic fashionista may not care whether or not the shagreen is real, but go for the cheaper faux simply because it is cheaper. What do you think? What place should shagreen occupy in popular culture?

Here are a few of our favorite contemporary shagreen picks, {both real and faux}...

DECOR:

Regina Andrew Design {if you remember from the last post, we have a sister chest in our studio right now!}

Yannick Chastang {this is a custom piece by the artist; isn't the detail unbelievable?} 

FASHION:

left: Morven Mulgrew custom {worn by a very fashionable bride!} right: Dara Ettinger Portia earrings

left: Gigi New York Iris cross-body bag  right: Chrissie Morris Farrah sandals