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History
The Mendal family began tanning exotic skins in South America in the 1950s. With tanneries in Colombia and Argentina, we soon became the world’s leading supplier of finished caiman, lizard and snake skins. Unfortunately, by the early 1980s, many of these animals had become endangered, so US Fish and Wildlife elected to ban the trade of wild caiman skins. As a result, the Mendal family was forced to close its operations.
However, with new conservation and sustaining programs, US Fish and Wildlife had spawned a new industry in farm-raised alligators, caimans and crocodiles by the mid 1980s. Throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, these species flourished, creating a healthy population. In 1984, Mark Mendal seized the opportunity by reopening tanning operations in New York State and Colombia and the Mendal family once again emerged as a leader in the supply of exotic skins to the world’s markets.
The Internet Boom of the late 1990s presented yet another opportunity for the Mendal family. Over the years, the family had accumulated masses of finished leather goods from customers, often given as gifts or as part of a liquidation. Abram and Jayme Mendal soon recognized online auctioneers and shopping networks as an efficient forum for offloading these products to the public at a significant discount to traditional retail prices. Online shoppers took strikingly well to these offers and the Mendal brothers were reluctant to let this new side of the business dissolve as inventory ran dry. In an effort to pursue this business further, the Mendal family decided to assemble its own line of men’s belts and accessories using exotic skins from their own tanneries. In 2000, we launched our website and the AJSkins brand was born.
As a supplier of our own skins, we are able to provide customers with the exact skins, colors and finishes you want at a very competitive price. Today, AJSkins has served as a direct discount supplier of exotic leather products to individual customers in over 40 states. AJSkins products can be also be found in boutiques and local leather goods stores across the country.
However, with new conservation and sustaining programs, US Fish and Wildlife had spawned a new industry in farm-raised alligators, caimans and crocodiles by the mid 1980s. Throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, these species flourished, creating a healthy population. In 1984, Mark Mendal seized the opportunity by reopening tanning operations in New York State and Colombia and the Mendal family once again emerged as a leader in the supply of exotic skins to the world’s markets.
The Internet Boom of the late 1990s presented yet another opportunity for the Mendal family. Over the years, the family had accumulated masses of finished leather goods from customers, often given as gifts or as part of a liquidation. Abram and Jayme Mendal soon recognized online auctioneers and shopping networks as an efficient forum for offloading these products to the public at a significant discount to traditional retail prices. Online shoppers took strikingly well to these offers and the Mendal brothers were reluctant to let this new side of the business dissolve as inventory ran dry. In an effort to pursue this business further, the Mendal family decided to assemble its own line of men’s belts and accessories using exotic skins from their own tanneries. In 2000, we launched our website and the AJSkins brand was born.
As a supplier of our own skins, we are able to provide customers with the exact skins, colors and finishes you want at a very competitive price. Today, AJSkins has served as a direct discount supplier of exotic leather products to individual customers in over 40 states. AJSkins products can be also be found in boutiques and local leather goods stores across the country.