I have two exotic Filofaxes – a Red Lizard and a Buttercup Ostrich, both in personal size. My Lizard is almost 20 years old and my Buttercup is about four months old.
They are beautiful binders – both have replaceable rings and the leather is extremely hardwearing. The design of both is excellent with every millimeter of space utilized to best effect. The buttercup in particular is the best designed organiser I have EVER owned.
The exotic range comprises Ostrich, Lizard and Alligator. New designs have recently come out and new colours for the Alligator – red and green.
Have heard some small whisperings that the quality of some of the skins recently has not been what it was. So maybe this is why…..
…..the exotics have been discontinued. *sob*
This is a real pity because these binders were, in my opinion, the only ones in recent years which justified a high price tag, unlike the Affair and the Guinea.
Still, they are still available – on eBay, on Amazon and on Pens and Leather, and in sales and swap groups if you keep your eyes out and check regularly.
The Filofax exotic binders are all made in the USA so the skins are farmed, not hunted. It is fairly easy to get ostrich leather into most countries, lizard is usually also okay, but with alligator (even farmed alligator) you need to get a permit in many countries (including Sweden). Retailers who sell alligator in restrictive countries have to have a permit to sell them.