Elle Barbeito is one of Florida’s most compelling voices in sustainable fashion—part huntress, part designer, part storyteller, 100% bad ass.
Born and raised in Miami to Cuban and Chilean parents, Elle merges traditional leathercraft with ecological action, transforming the skins of invasive Burmese pythons into one-of-a-kind accessories, garments, and heirloom pieces. What began as a creative experiment quickly became a mission to make art that speaks to the tangled beauty and deep-rooted challenges of her home state.
She learned from her father how to handle python leather—scraping, tanning, softening—out of both necessity and respect. Her pieces are raw yet refined, deeply personal, and unmistakably Floridian. Belts, bags, boots, and furniture… each object carries the story of South Florida’s battle against a relentless invader, turned into something beautiful by skilled hands. Since then, she has been featured in everything from a book on Florida by A24 to articles in National Geographic, and more.
Now, Elle is turning her focus toward something even more expansive. Her upcoming project, “Florida Girls,” is half documentary, half fashion archive. It highlights the voices of women across the state—ranchers, conservationists, daughters of alligator farmers—each wearing her handcrafted designs. It’s a tribute to women shaped by the land, and a portrait of Florida told through leather, memory, and place.
She’s like something out of a Frank Frazetta painting, except she’s the real deal. Elle inspires us to get our hands dirty, to explore the connections between art and conservation, and to stay fearless in the fight for wild Florida.
To view her work, visit ellebarbeito.com or follow her on Instagram @ellebarbeito.
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