Hellooooo there my scrumptious, stylish, colourful keyboard fashion warriors! After a few weeks chilling, thinking, and pondering life at home in the Savannah, I finally got to jump on a planeHspread my hooves and fly to somewhere a tad cooler than Africa! A place where the floor literally is lava, and where an explosion of color can be found way up high above the ground. When my friends at LUC8K told me that this week’s blog should celebrate the beauty of colors, my head was spinning. I mean, the world is full of color, rich and vibrant and surprising and beautiful, so, where on earth do I start?!
By the way, this year’s official color trends are rich Mocha Mousse, zingy chartreuse, peaceful Limpet Shell blue, bold butter yellow, and moody burgundy. I love it! I want to wear them, feel them, taste them, and roll around like a teenager on a polished marble floor on them! I want to choose two of these colors, pick which LUC8K colors closely match, and see how they look together on a bespoke LUC8K Tote bag. I’ve already got seven LUC8K Totes, but a girl can NEVER have too many bags, right ladies?? Plus, I get them heavily discounted because I am their global ambassador after all ;)
Anyway, I trotted around in circles and thought long and hard about what colors actually mean to me. The majestic orange glow of the sun as it rises over the Savannah is a thing of beauty. The lush green leaves that surround me and give my family food and warmth. But…I’ve always had a deep obsession with the Northern Lights. The ‘Aurora Borealis’ is a stunning natural light display that happens in the sky at night in cold places around where Santa Claus and his reindeers live. A magical, swirling mixture of blue, purple, green, and aqua marine. The most enchanting colors I’ve ever seen in my life! Well, I’ve seen pictures and YouTube videos of it, but I figured this was my perfect excuse to go see it with my own eyes, and indulge in a little joie de vivre along the way, darlings! So, here I am now, in the first class lounge at Keflavík airport waiting for my long flight home after an amazing trip to Iceland. I’m kind of hoping that one of Iceland’s volcanoes will erupt again so I can stay here for a few more days…
First stop: Reykjavik
I didn’t get much sleep on the journey. Screaming human babies, turbulence, flatulence (courtesy of a big American guy I was squashed next to) and I was just too excited! At Keflavík Airport, I trotted gracefully through customs in my oversized sunglasses, sipping expensive glacier-cooled cucumber water through a 3 metre-long paper straw. At security, everyone was staring up and admiring my beloved LUC8K Weekender bag, even small children and that awful noisy human baby I had to endure on the plane. Still, it’s always good to be noticed, even if it is for the gorgeous bag across my shoulder!
As I trotted outside, I immediately felt the chill on my spots from the cool Icelandic air. In Iceland, apparently the weather changes frequently - so much so that locals say “If you don’t like the weather, wait five minutes.” Me being me, I made sure I brought four coats and a thermal cape just to be safe. At the VIP meet and greet area I spotted my personal tour guide for the trip - Magnús Einarsson, an unbelievably single, delicious six-foot-five Viking hipster with a geothermal-heated jacket, a PhD in Icelandic folklore and a man-bun that says ‘I’M A BIG, POWERFUL MAN BUT I WILL HAPPILY LOOK AFTER YOUR KITTENS AND STROKE THEM WHILST YOU’RE AWAY ON HOLIDAY.’
His welcome was as warm as his perfect smile. “Hey Sophie! Wow, I’ve guided banking CEO’s, politicians, celebrities, even a few alpacas, but believe it or not, you are my first ever giraffe! I was a giraffe virgin until now! And you are gorgeous, look at you!”
I blushed a little, and just knew that me and my Viking Man were going to get along just fine…
Magnús ushered me into the back of his custom-made electric Land Rover Defender, and I was delighted to find it fully stocked with champagne (of course darlings!), delicious Arctic blueberries, a jar of pickled eels that I couldn’t even look at, and a playlist of ethereal Icelandic soundscapes to set the mood. I sank back into the heated, plush leather seats, and stared at the passing landscape and quirky little houses as we made our way into town.
Reykjavík’s Colorful Boutique Scene
Our first stop was KIOSK, a quirky little design-cooperative which showcases the very best of sustainable Icelandic fashion. I was introduced to Ásta Rós, a tall, beautiful Icelandic creature who was draped in a flowing cloak, hand-dyed with volcanic ash and lichen, which is a mix of rich Mocha Mousse and burgundy - that somehow miraculously matches Pantone’s palette for 2025!*
*Disclaimer: Like Magnús with my champagne request, Ásta also got my memo about this year’s colors - and if she could be an absolute darling and weave them in to our visit somehow ;)
Icelandic Fashion: Bespoke from Snout to Hoof
Magnús then drove me a short distance (compared to my flight) to Farmers Market, one of Iceland’s most unique and inspiring fashion gems. If you ever go there, make sure you have plenty of money, and don’t even bother doing online currency conversions from Icelandic Schmoo Schmoo to Trump Dollars. The prices will terrify you, but you only live once, am I right my darlings?
Farmers Market is nestled deep in the heart of the harbour district of Grandi, in a wonderfully repurposed old fish-packing building. This lovely boutique showroom is an ode to Nordic craftsmanship, and slow fashion made using locally sourced natural materials. Founded by designer Bergthora Gudnadóttir and musician Jon Asgeir Johannesson, the brand focuses on functional fashion - a perfect fusion of traditional Icelandic heritage and modern styles, with colors to dye for (see what I did there?) If David Bowie was alive today, he’d love this place and probably shoot a funky music video there.
Once inside, I was warmly greeted with piping hot birch tea and a lovely hug from Thórdís, their in-house stylist, who was totally unfazed by the 16 foot high fashion icon standing tall before her! "Most of our clients only have two legs, but we do love a challenge out here!” she said as she struggled to measure one of my four beautifully sculptured legs. “How are you liking the fresh, Icelandic air, Sophie?” She asked. I paused for a moment then replied “well my dear, my nipples haven’t been this hard since I brushed up against Brad Pitt at a charity ball in 2008!”
Thórdís is another incredibly tall Icelandic human who designs hand-knitted jumpers using responsibly-sourced wool dyed in ash, lichen, and blueberry. I got fitted for a Limpet Shell blue shawl, and although their mirrors weren’t big enough for me to see how it actually looks on me, I’m sure it looks great! I love the fact that these wonderful people use natural colors in their designs, and like LUC8K, the feeling you get from owning something truly bespoke is truly wonderful!
I then enjoyed the luxury of a private VIP viewing at Kormákur & Skjöldur, where I was introduced to bespoke thermals stitched with hidden pockets, so I can now smuggle my favourite leaves to chew on mid-flight on my next adventure. I was getting a little peckish at this point, so I absolutely devoured the free canapés I was offered, although I did inhale a plate full of pickled eels by mistake, and my digestive system has been upset and disappointed with me ever since!
I came away with a gorgeous hand-knitted sweater which is dyed in ash (it seems to me that most things out here are dyed in volcanic ash - which comes in handy when you live next door to an active volcano I guess!) and butter yellow lichen, with delicate chartreuse embroidery inspired by Icelandic moss. I love the colors, and the sleeves actually fit snugly around my forelegs, which is more than I can say for some other items in my wardrobe that I really should give up and donate to a charity clothes shop for really tall people.
Sustainable Colors To Soothe the Soul
All the beautifully handmade items in Farmers Market reflect Iceland’s love of eco-conscious luxury living. The wonderfully soft yet long-lasting wool is locally sourced from Icelandic sheep, whose coats are unbelievably thick to enable them to survive both sub-zero temperatures and hipster fashion trends. They get their natural dyes from iron, rhubarb root, and blueberry to create seasonal hues that - by complete coincidence - reflect Pantone’s 2025 colour palette. Mocha Mousse is the exact shade of their top-selling scarf. Their glacier-inspired cardigans are Limpet Shell blue, and as for Burgundy? You can find it everywhere out here, from bags, hats and scarves, to a subtle detail weaved into their winter coats.
Sophie Gets Hooked on Haute: The Fish Leather Atelier
Magnús knows all about LUC8K and how we use the finest leather to produce sublime quality, bespoke bags in our atelier in France, so he arranged a private VIG (Very Important Giraffe) visit to Atlantic Raw, one of Iceland’s best-kept secrets. It’s a boutique atelier that turns discarded fish skins into high-fashion leather!
We drove to an old herring factory in Blönduós, which is now a studio owned and run by another brilliant, bearded man - a designer called Óli Hákon. He greeted me with a warm smile and a glass of rhubarb fizz. Bubbles! He knows me so well! He showed me a swatch-book of fish hides - perch, eel, and salmon, all dyed in Pantone-perfect hues: butter yellow, sky blue, deep burgundy, and a surprisingly chic chartreuse green. Who’d have thought!?? I don’t think I’ll ever look at sushi the same way ever again!
The leather is surprisingly soft, durable, and you’ll be pleased to know it smells absolutely nothing like fish! I ordered a bespoke Mocha Mousse-toned clutch with sky-blue inlay, to go perfectly with my new hoof-warmers. Óli told me that this isn’t a new fangled thing - Icelanders have used fish leather for fashion since the Viking age because it’s eight times stronger than cowhide, and fish are very easy to come by in this part of the world. They typically use responsibly sourced Arctic char and cod - by-products of the fishing industry - so, just like LUC8K’s own production process, there is absolutely no waste. Each fish skin is then dyed using geothermal energy and zero harsh chemicals, which is great for humans and the planet - the ultimate combo of sustainability and luxury!
The Land of Elves, Lava and Phallic Wooden Penises
We bid a fond farewell to Óli and his team of Icelandic elves, and headed off to our final destination, which I couldn’t wait to experience! Magnús was telling me all about Iceland on our drive, and I learnt so many things about this magical place! For example, they have the Icelandic Phallological Museum, (which is erm, wait for it…a penis museum!) and it has over 200 specimens erected on display. One of them is from a troll, apparently…the mind boggles my dears! I would love to see this just out of curiosity, but Magnús assures me that the low ceilings are no place for a giraffe.
Can you believe that over half of the country (including Magnús) believe in elves or huldufólk which means ‘hidden people?’ It’s true, and because of this, Elves actually have legal rights in Iceland, to the point where construction projects have been stopped to avoid disturbing their little magical homes! I can’t wait to tell the LUC8K Elves who hand make our exquisite leather bags in their French tannery, they will be overjoyed!
I doubt you’ll ever see Donald Trump set foot in Iceland, A - because he probably thinks it doesn’t exists, and B - because if you can’t go a week without having a Big Mac, Iceland is not a place for you to visit. The last McDonald’s closed nearly twenty years ago, making Iceland one of Europe’s most fast food and Trump-free places in Europe. Hoooorah!
I was asking Magnús about his name and if it means anything, and he told me that the government has to approve the names of all Icelandic babies via an ‘official naming committee.’ If your chosen name doesn’t conform to Icelandic grammar or spelling rules, it’s a no-go. Sorry, Elon! Everyone in Iceland is on a first-name basis too, which is rather curious. Icelandic surnames are patronymic, so people are listed by their first names, even in the phone book. I know quite a few Sarahs and Johns, so this would be very problematic for a socialite giraffe like me…
I can’t remember the last time I associated bread with volcanic activity (well, apart from when my calves refused to eat their crusts and I was in a bad mood) but according to Magnús, there is an actual volcanic bakery in Hveragerði. Why would there not be, darlings? But, it makes total sense. The ground soil is so hot near the geothermal springs that local baking enthusiasts use it to make rye bread! They slow-bake it for 24 hours underground and when they dig it back out, it has a unique, sweet taste. Just spread on some delicious Icelandic butter and add a drizzle of glacier honey for a real taste of Mother Earth. Then, once your belly is full of lava bread, you can trot off to Viti and swim in a volcano crater! It’s full of warm turquoise geothermal water, so no matter how cold it is outside, you can always stay cozy and warm inside a volcano!
As we drove past a series of strange looking buildings nestled on top of the wild landscape, my ever-so-delicate snout could pick up the aroma of sulphur, so I asked Magnús what it was. Turns out it was Hellisheiði, a geothermal power plant with a visitor’s centre we didn’t have time to visit. Magnús pointed to the volcanic landscape and said “Sophie, this is where the Earth breathes.” Beautiful words but it is also where Mother Earth sometimes gets angry and explodes. All that pent up frustration at how humans are treating her. I really can’t blame her for wanting to unleash all that ash and lava, because if that’s not a sign that the world has had enough, I don’t know what is.
Sophie’s Secret Supper Beneath the Earth
As we approached Raufarhólshellir, I looked down at my invite. “Dear Princess Sophie IV, You are cordially invited to dine where fire once flowed. Dress code: Fabulous. Headwear optional.” After a whirlwind tour of fish-leather fashion and geothermal exploration, it was time to let down my mane, and fill my empty belly inside one of Iceland’s most dramatic lava tunnels. As we entered, the air sparkled with natural mineral dust, and my clip clop hooves echoed all around us as we followed a trail of lanterns to an unbelievable sight - an exquisite dining setup in the middle of the cave’s staggeringly huge chamber.
There was a long table that sparkled under twinkly fairy lights above, and we felt strangely warm and cosy thanks to the geothermal steam from below.
My fellow diners were a diverse and fabulous assortment of characters: an Icelandic accountant turned-poet called Björg, a Japanese tech billionaire on his/her “digital detox,” and a professional cheese board maker named Hrafn who insists he once saw the Northern Lights spell out the word “Brie.”
The food was to die for, and at the end of it, I really did think that I’d popped my clogs and gone to the Great Animal Kingdom in the sky. It was all exclusively curated and hand made by a Michelin-trained chef/mole who only ever cooks underground. From Arctic char tartare with foraged sorrel and black lava salt, to Sky-blue lingonberry mousse served in edible ice bowls, it was culinary and sensory perfection, and was accompanied by an avant-garde duo playing glacial crystal bowls and a fish-skin drum. The music echoed through the cave and sent shivers down my long neck.
And then, finally, it was time to realise a dream of mine. I nearly peed myself with nervous excitement as we were all led through the tunnel towards a private outdoor plateau. I was handed a rhubarb cocktail. I took one sip, then looked up at the night sky. There she was in all her mesmerising, other-worldly glory. Aurora borealis - The Northern Lights, swirling above me like the inside of the most beautiful lava lamp imaginable. They danced and rippled across the sky like it was my own private cosmic light show. I was lost for words then, and the colors I saw were beyond words now. Stunning beyond belief. Wow. Just, WOW.
I stared upwards for hours, but it seemed like minutes. I toasted the most beautiful thing I have ever seen with a final glass of champagne, and headed with Magnús to the hotel where I would sleep for hours with a smile on my face, and wake up with the stiffest of long necks.
I came here to look up at the Northern Lights, but I leave with a heart and soul full of color, a neck full of knitwear, and a cheeseboard maker now following me on Instagram.
My visit to Iceland was more than a trip. It was a rich tapestry of colors, textures, and soulful encounters, every thread spun with intention. After all, that’s the LUC8K way of doing things - a luxury lifestyle, where every experience, like every LUC8K bag, should be one-of-a-kind.
From a sweater knit to fit perfectly around my long neck, to a dining experience I will never forget, luxury isn’t just about five-star - it’s about five-senses. And this adventure was custom-made to fit me like a glove, like all the best things in life.
Sophie’s Final Thought:
I came to Iceland to see colors in the sky, but I leave wearing them, tasting them, and carrying them in my heart. This was way more than a trip - it was a living mood board of joy, and like all good things, it was made just for me.
Until next time, live your colors, and stay uniquely you,
With love,
Sophie & the LUC8K Team