The trend for leather has always topped the charts. Leather is used for varied purposes, be it - handbags, shoes and is a boon for the textile industry as well. Leather a favourite for the trend makers as well the setters. The latest trend setter in the genre is the ‘fish Bikini’. Smelly fish skin once tossed away or sold to street vendors for cheap food has become a highly desirable product used to make designer handbags, shoes and even bikinis- the latest byproduct of the Fashion vistas.

The Thai entrepreneurs have developed a way of processing skins of the tropical tilapia fish to make durable leather.

The fish-skin bikini was exhibited at a Bangkok fashion show last month and its makers are hoping for orders from Europe and the United States for the bizarre yet unique product.

“It’s comfortable! The bikini can really breathe,” said Sudarat Sae-lim, modeling the scaly, cobalt-blue two-piece. “I like that its waterproof, it means it can dry more easily.”

Each tilapia skin fetches around $1.25, and is dried, treated and dyed to make products from key-rings to couches. One bikini needs 15 fish skins to make, and will go on sale for $75.

The fishy affair has kept lots astounded. The creation really raises eyebrows but has left its foot prints in the Fashion arena and indeed is a great creation!

link: http://spluch.blogspot.com/2007/09/theres-something-fishy-about-that.html