Animal print, or leopard print, is a clothing and fashion style in which the garment is made to resemble the pattern of the skin and fur of an animal such as a Leopard, Cheetah, Zebra, Tiger, Spotted Hyena, Striped Hyena, African Wild Dog or Giraffe. Animal print is also used for handbags and footwear and even some jewelry. [1] A major difference between animal prints and fur clothing is that animal prints today very often use fake fur instead of animal coat.
Animal prints have long been a popular style for many reasons. For one, they are generally expensive and considered rather exotic; hence they are a symbol of wealth and status. Throughout history, kings and other high people have used animal print rugs and such as a sign of status just as mounted animals are kept as trophies. [2] [3] [4] Animal print became popular for women in the United States in the late 1960s during the Bohemian movement.