Florida is taking an unusual approach to protect its wildlife by turning the invasive Burmese python into high-end fashion. Governor Ron DeSantis announced that the state is partnering with Miami-based company Inversa to remove pythons from the Everglades and repurpose their skins as leather in luxury fashion products.
Burmese pythons were first released in Florida in the 1970s through the illegal pet trade. Since then, they have become a major threat to native wildlife, capable of killing deer and other endangered species.
“This thing can take out a deer. It’s unbelievable what they’re able to do. A single python can threaten the survival of many endangered species”
Governor Ron DeSantis
Inversa, founded in 2020, calls its products “ethical exotics.” The company works with about 50 professional python hunters and turns the removed pythons into fashion items such as jackets and handbags.
Between May and July 2025, 1,022 pythons were removed, nearly triple the number during the same period in 2024.
Each python hide helps protect up to 460 native animals and improves survival chances for 39 endangered species. The partnership has also reduced FWC’s administrative workload by 89% and increased hunters’ pay by around 60%.
“Inversa’s priority with this public-private partnership is to remove as many pythons as possible while defraying the taxpayer’s burden, who, without the help of the fashion industry, would front 100% of the cost of removals and management”
Henri Ferré, Inversa’s head of development.
The initiative has caught the attention of top fashion brands. Gabriela Hearst and KHAITE featured python products in their 2025 fall shows. Hearst called Inversa a “game-changer” for sustainable fashion in an interview with Vogue.
