The handbag industry has reached a new height despite the market downturn and the new height is Exotic high. Contrary to the opinion that people will reduce their spending on luxury goods, exotic handbags are still high in demand. “Women are starting to think of something that looks a little timeless and isn’t so identifiable the way the ‘it’ handbag of the minute was,” says David Wolfe, a trend forecaster at the Doneger Group in New York. “They’re looking for things that maybe have fewer details and gimmicks but [with] recognizable quality. The exotic skins certainly deliver that. Anybody who looks at those bags knows that they’re pricey.”

And who else would rejoice more upon hearing such news than Nancy Gonzalez? The Colombian-based handbag designer has been long recognised as the top exotic handbag maker to the world. Nancy Gonzalez bags are logoless, hardware-less and made of supple and quality exotic skins, mostly crocs. This croc tote in red (also available in black) is one example of simplicity at its best. I can imagine the bag being used today and still being used by the owner 30 years from now and will still be as stunning. If you could do the math, grab this baby from Neiman Marcus at USD3,650.