BLOG, NEWS & PRODUCT UPDATES

LUC8K - LIV UR COLORS

Welcome to the LUC8K Blog & News page!

Here you will find the latest LUC8K updates, new product announcements and Sophie’s travel stories.

Follow our resident giraffe, Sophie, as she travels the world with her authentic and exclusive hand-crafted LUC8K leather bags and accessories. Please get in touch in case you would like to have more background information about any of the news items published here.

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The Naked Cowboy in NYC's Times Square

New Luxury-Made with Love, Challenges & Possibilities!

We live in a world that emphasizes material things, from cars and jewels to designer bags. But the truth is, it's not the things that make life beautiful – it's how we experience them. Investing in experiences - such as creating entirely custom pieces with craftsmanship and details- provides us all with true luxury, where style and personality come together unforgettably. Furthermore, by making ethical choices, such as looking for sustainable solutions for leather crafting, we can make sure our fashion decisions focus more on a positive impact than anything else.

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Sophisticated Style Will Make You That Cosmopolitan Woman

Sophisticated Style Will Make You That Cosmopolitan Woman

Being a high-flyer in the modern world requires attention to detail and work. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have fun. Styling your looks from the top of your head to the tips of your toes is an awesome challenge. It will make you feel like a million dollars when you enter the boardroom or sashay into the rooftop club. Your clothes, shoes, accessories, make-up, hair, and nails define your sophisticated style. They make you – You. An individual who knows exactly what she wants and how to get it. The Cosmopolitan Woman is all about fashion but not fads. She is about chic style and classy clothes that won’t fall apart and look tired and sad after one wash....

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Concerning The Necessity Of Affluence: Sustainable Luxury

Concerning The Necessity Of Affluence: Sustainable Luxury

What is Luxury? Excessive individualism is a decisive factor when attempting to define luxury. Even scientists find it difficult to define why joie de vivre sometimes fades away, which is not an unfamiliar condition for narcissists. Self-realization, self-representation, and individualism are social ideals that help to stimulate consumerism. The desire to be special is of key importance. According to Kant (German philosopher 1724 – 1804), opulent luxury serves culture, the arts, and the sciences, whereas excessive public indulgence is tasteless and thus has no positive effect on our welfare. From an economic viewpoint, Kant considers opulence to be an unnecessary expense that makes us poor, while indulgence makes us sick. One thing is certain: An overdeveloped feeling of vanity is...

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Cowardly Hunter Celebrates After Killing Elderly Giraffe

Cowardly Hunter Celebrates After Killing Elderly Giraffe

Sustainability, conservation begins with respect. Self-respect and respect for others, including animals. From her actions and her reasoning afterward, Tess Thompson Talley lacks respect. The U.S. citizen paid money to South African authorities to track and kill a 4,000-pound elderly black giraffe for sport. Then she celebrated her trophy kill by posting her smiling, triumphant face on Facebook beside the dead animal. The mascot and brand ambassador of LUC8K are Sophie, a beautiful, elegant giraffe, so the needless, senseless killing of these creators doesn’t go over well here. It took about a year, but the social media backlash eventually came for Talley, and it has been fierce. It began with “AfricaDigest,” a Twitter page of a publication called “Africland post,”...

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What Goes into Making a Luxury Handbag

What Goes into Making a Luxury Handbag

Luxury leather handbags are a key component of any stylish person’s attire, but have you ever wondered what goes into manufacturing these items? Probably not — after all, most of us just enjoy the look and use of a handbag — but these high-end designs are often crafted to perfection thanks to months of painstaking work. If you would like to find out more about the design and creation process behind our luxury handbags, then read on for an eye-opening guide that will allow you to see your handbag in a whole new light! The Design Process Before any work is completed with the materials, a handbag has to be conceived and designed. We aim to provide unique but classic...

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Giveaway • You Are Our Amazing Customer Champion

Giveaway • You Are Our Amazing Customer Champion

Our Sophie decided to run a Giveaway Contest at the end of the year 2017. Who is Sophie? She is our favorite client and spokeswoman, and she is the one individual who most closely personifies the LUC8K experience. Sustainable practices are essential to Sophie. You might even say her life depends on it. So far, she has been traveling to 23 different countries worldwide, sharing her excitements, experiences, thoughts, and love for colors. LUC8K stands for “LivUrColors”, 8 is our “lucky” number, and “K” the first letter of its founder’s name who is “Karen”. Follow Sophie’s stories on our blog and news and experience why socially- and environmentally-conscious practices are important to us. We are independent, and we are niche. It’s only...

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Jacky Donatz Press Release

Jacky Donatz Press Release

Jacky Donatz is turning into an alchemist. The celebrity chef from Zurich is developing papaya salt for fine-tuned tastes. The Gault-Millau chef will be introducing his “secret” seasoning salt in Zurich. Zurich, 24 Oktober 2017 – As part of the book fair in Zurich’s Grand Hotel “Savoy Baur en Ville”, Gault-Millau chef Jacky Donatz will be presenting his J.DO 8001 seasoning salt, exquisitely packaged by the Swiss designer brand, “LUC8K”. “A hunch without reason is like a soup without salt”- Jacky Donatz. This is the philosophy that the passionate professional chef who bears the title of “Grand Officer of the Master Roasters Society” lives by. Those who love a dash of luxury are sure to enjoy this bag of salt....

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Wildlife Photographer Of The Year 2017 Award For LUC8K Ambassador Peter Delaney

Wildlife Photographer Of The Year 2017 Award For LUC8K Ambassador Peter Delaney

He accepted this prestigious Wildlife Photographer of the Year award in the category of “Animal Portraits” on October 17 at a ceremony at the Natural History Museum in London wearing the new LUC8K handmade designer leather belt with the metal buckle that serves as both the lucky number “8” and the infinity symbol. “To be nominated for the WPOY awards is an honor and privilege,” Delaney said. “The Wildlife Photographer of the Year is one of the oldest and most prestigious nature competitions globally and is considered the benchmark in nature photography.” Delaney received the award for his black and white portrait photograph, “Chimpanzee Dreaming,” which is appropriate since chimpanzees are his favorite pictorial subject to capture in the wild....

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Leather Tote handbag exclusive handmade in France in red and pink

Language of Color & Freedom of Choice

At LUC8K we believe in setting trends not following them. We do this by the design of our high-quality leather goods, the manner in which they are constructed, but most importantly we set trends through the use of color. And so do you. We break the rules by letting you pick your colors and use our given design as an instrument to composing your style and communicate the idea of exclusive personalized beauty. This is a powerful tool for a woman who knows herself and has her own sense of style. LUC8K is for a confident woman comfortable enough to make her own style decisions in a world where everyone is telling her what to wear and how to wear it. Color In Design Is Very Subjective There are...

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Sustainability The Soul Of LUC8K

Sustainability The Soul Of LUC8K

Leather has a language of its own: sleek, sexy, tough, durable. It’s cool and hot at the same time. It’s modern and it’s classic. It defies stereotypes yet it’s flexible enough to fit anyone’s lifestyle. From the cowboy riding to the sunset to the motorcyclist speeding down the highway to the fashion houses that line the most important shopping streets in the world, the material has a breadth of fashion and style that is unmatched. At LUC8K leather is the most important ingredient in our handbags. That’s why we source our leather from one of the most prominent tanneries in the world located in the interior of the French Basque country. The region, one of the finest breeding areas in Europe, produces...

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LUC8K Brings Beautiful Bespoke Handbags To Your Doorstep

LUC8K Brings Beautiful Bespoke Handbags To Your Doorstep

Everyone knows that luxury shoppers, with their bespoke handbags, are spending more time online and on mobile devices. A 2014 McKinsey report confirms this saying the digital medium influences at least 45% of all luxury sales. LUC8K combines traditional savoir faire with the digital world to help smart, savvy women meet their fashion and style needs. For Confident Women in the Know “LUC8K allows customers to choose their color schemes and other key aspects of their bespoke leather goods. This allows women to create bespoke handbags that match their personal lifestyle. LUC8K is a product for women who know luxury, fashion and style. More importantly it is for women who know themselves and are willing to challenge their beliefs.” “LUC8K...

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How to pack intelligently – for the Cosmopolitan Woman

How to pack intelligently – for the Cosmopolitan Woman

At LUC8K, we know that the Cosmopolitan woman loves to travel. Whether you are jetting off for business, pleasure, or a combination of both, you need to cart along with luggage! Packing intelligently and with some thought upfront may sound like too much hard work – but it has huge benefits when you arrive on the other side of your journey. Style, class, and elegance can be carried in your suitcase. You don’t have to spend your holidays in crumpled-up clothing and mismatched colors. Take your #newluxury ambiance with you no matter where you are going, ensuring that you look classy, upmarket, and sophisticated. The Cosmopolitan woman sees the world as her oyster. She embraces every opportunity she can find...

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Reimagining Luxury

Reimagining Luxury

As countries begin to open their borders, we ease back into traveling beyond our neighborhoods. Today, younger generations prioritize sustainability and authenticity, especially in the sense of privilege that comes with wearing a product. Luxury is more democratic and conscious. They are inspired by wanderlust and responsibility for transparency and a sustainable lifestyle. LUC8K is a company that produces leather handbags and accessories that are unique. Ready to help people to reacquaint themselves with their spirit of adventure, the trend is to live your life’s style. More relaxed – and fun. Based in Switzerland LUC8K, based in Switzerland, was founded four years ago by Karen Olivo, a veteran luxury goods professional. She created the company for two reasons. First, to...

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10 Facts About Advanced Leather Craftsmanship

10 Facts About Advanced Leather Craftsmanship

Throughout time luxurious items have always represented a statement of power and status. And, for millennia, luxurious items have always been those crafted with unparalleled expertise, made from rare materials, and featuring masterfully-created details. But the idea of luxury has changed over the past centuries, along with consumer trends and economic fluctuations. Since the end of the 19th century, luxury has become associated with brands, labels, and high prices – Veblen Goods are nothing more than proof of it. But today, brands, artisans, and consumers are reimagining what luxury is and what it entails. Far beyond just seeking the presence of a famous brand name, consumers are now actively looking for advanced leather craftsmanship, unique details, customization, and sustainability. And...

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How Every Handmade Leather Belts Makes You Feel Awesome

How Every Handmade Leather Belts Makes You Feel Awesome

The natural look has always been in fashion, and leather holds a particular place of prominence in fashion. When it’s done well, few materials match the timeless look of handcrafted leather or the supple smoothness of its touch. But with so many options, including synthetic materials, leather is becoming more than a look and more than just a practical choice. It’s becoming a statement. Nowhere is this more prevalent than when choosing a handcrafted leather belt. Since the handmade leather belt is an accessory that its use puts a lot of strain on, leather is always the first choice for the suitable base material. Superior leather is flexible and tear-resistant at the same time – a belt handmade of such...

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What is Sustainable Leather?

What is Sustainable Leather?

There’s nothing like the look, the feel, the versatility, and even the smell of real sustainable leather. Its popularity is a testament to the wearability and attractiveness of high-quality leather goods. In style and strength, it can last for generations. Simply put, faux leather is not to last. However, leather production can be a concern to those who want to purchase sustainable leather goods. There was a time when sustainable leather was an oxymoron. Still, thanks to improvements in production methods throughout the supply chain, it is now a reality. Through humane treatments of animals, new tanning processes. and the humane treatment of those who work with leather goods. At LUC8K, we produce our handmade leather goods sustainably. Sustainable Leather Comes...

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At LUC8K we embrace the real woman in you

At LUC8K we embrace the real woman in you

There is a lot of hype around #RealWomen! At LUC8K, we have been speaking to #RealWomen since we conceptualized our brand. So welcome – we would love to take you on this journey with us. Our luxurious products are designed for those women who simply are who they are – they don’t need to show off, shout a thousand words or try to prove anything. They are elegant, classy, confident and most of all,  know exactly what they want! A great attitude makes a real woman Getting on with it is the way it is done. You won’t find real women complaining, moaning, or making excuses. We simply do it and have fun while we are at it. Obstacles are...

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Signature Leather Belts and Buckle

Signature Leather Belts and Buckle

We have just released a collection of reversible handmade leather belts for women and men. Each belt comes with the official LUC8K interchangeable belt buckle that serves as both the number “8” and as the infinity symbol. The number eight in many cultures and ideologies seems to have similar meaning: Felicity. Turned sideways into the infinity symbol, it means your luck will last forever. Designer Belts The best thing about the designer belt is that like all our leather bags and accessories, it comes in a variety of colors, adding flair to what you wear and carry with you wherever you go. Since the designer belts are reversible, it means that each belt comes in two colors. Ladies Leather Belt Men’s...

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Handcrafted Weekender Bag

Handcrafted Weekender Bag

For the first time, the weekender duffle bag is designed for both women and men, and is made from a new material. However, it still has all of the fundamental and distinctive characteristics associated with all our leather products. The handmade “Weekender” is a duffle bag made for those short travel excursions when one bag is all you need. It is made of lightweight, durable and waterproof PVC coated canvas Made in Italy. This is a new twist for the company that made its name producing high quality leather goods. Weekender Duffel The Design Of The Canvas Weekender Bag The design of the handcrafted canvas Weekender bag is also new, yet retains and even expands upon the LUC8K brand identity....

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Sophie Is Gaga Over New LUC8K Custom Business Card Holder

Sophie Is Gaga Over New LUC8K Custom Business Card Holder

Sophie is running up to startled strangers giving them her business card and asking for their cards for no apparent reason. Who knew Sophie had business cards or even a business. It turns out Sophie isn’t interested in doing business. She just wants people to see her new exclusive custom business card holder. Sophie always gets excited when LUC8K unveils a new product but this time she’s actually jumping for joy over this new leather card holder. The compact and handy leather card holder is handmade in the same way that all LUC8K leather goods are, and is a perfect complement to LUC8K leather bags and accessories. In addition, the small size of the leather card case means it could standalone...

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Every Brand Has A Story

Every Brand Has A Story

The fashion industry is one of the world’s largest industries, valued at more than $1 trillion I became attracted to this industry not only because it’s fascinating but because I don’t believe in a world of ‘me too’. I wanted to make a mark in this world. Fashion is a constantly evolving and changing industry that involves property rights, materials engineering, manufacturing, marketing, and growing demand for responsible and sustainable disciplines. For the leather industry, it is known that many of the tanneries have poor environmental controls. However, it doesn’t stop us from buying leather goods and the data proves this. Industry revenue is forecasted to achieve more than $90 billion by 2018. By putting these facts into the spotlight, I...

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Sophie goes to London video displays typical red bus from London with the Tower Big Ben

Sophie & the King | LUC8K and English Royalty Champion Sustainability

At the historic King Charles III coronation, the luxury brands Ambassador Sophie, showcased its bespoke handmade leather products. LUC8K is dedicated to sustainability and craftsmanship in luxury goods and each bag is made with love by experienced artisans. It was an exciting day for the company as they were part of such a momentous occasion as well as having royal family members present at the event. Challenges facing sustainable luxury brands are plentiful, but it was clear that LUC8K had stood up to the challenge on this very special day.

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Why Sophie Goes Home? COVID-19 Limits Her Travel

Why Sophie Goes Home? COVID-19 Limits Her Travel

I’m in Botswana as coronavirus COVID-19 caused me to take a break from being a jet setter. As much as I love to travel and promote LUC8K leather bags and accessories, I’m going to take advantage of being home. I’ll spend time with my family, play with the meerkats, and visit areas of the bush and the desert where I have many fond memories growing up. But mostly, I’ll be content to relax and get back to a regular schedule. The last few weeks in the air, I have to say, have been quite comfortable. Airports and planes have been half-full due to the coronavirus COVID-19. Airport staff and airline crews have been more accommodating. People have been friendly. Why does...

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Sophie in Switzerland

Sophie in Switzerland

Switzerland is the little country that could. The tiny, alpine nation is an economic powerhouse with the world’s 20th largest economy. Not bad for a country with the same population as New York City. It always scores in the top 10 in quality-of-life surveys, and it has a wealth of geographical features, from staggering mountains to bucolic valleys. Its cities all seem to be the proper size, and everything in the country runs like clockwork, which it should since the Swiss watch industry is one of its largest business sectors. Switzerland is an incredibly diverse and well-educated nation. However, it also can be quite confusing. It borders France, Italy, Germany, and Lichtenstein. While Swiss-German is the official language, French, Italian,...

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Sophie Goes To Greece

Sophie Goes To Greece

After visiting the U.S., where she saw how Donald Trump and others are trying to replace democracy with a right-wing dictatorship, Sophie, with her LUC8K handmade leather bags, is now flying to Athens, Greece. Why Athens? The Greek capital is one of the world’s oldest continually inhabited cities with a recorded history that dates back to 1400 BC. It is known as the cradle of Western civilization. This is due to its progress in the fields of literature and architecture. Athens really excelled in philosophy, were pioneers in this new field of learning—such as Plato, Aristotle, and Socrates—first shared their theories that are still being studied today. Athens is also known as the birthplace of democracy. Athens’ politics evolved into...

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Sophie Searches for the Essence of America

Sophie Searches for the Essence of America

Sophie’s latest LUC8K adventure takes her back to the United States, with her first stop being Washington D.C. Once off the plane, she headed, with her leather tote and canvas bag, straight for the center of world power, the White House. It is said the president of the United States is the leader of the free world. Because of an archaic system of electing U.S. presidents and proven Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, the free world leader is now a deranged, narcissist, sadist. Donald Trump’s immigration record consists of placing the poorest of the poor in cages (where children have died) and deporting people without regard to their family situation or whether they are even U.S. citizens....

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Sophie Experiences Yellowstone National Park Breakdown

Sophie Experiences Yellowstone National Park Breakdown

Those who live in the developed world take so many things for granted without regard for how quickly it could all disappear. These were some of Sophie’s thoughts as she walked through Yellowstone National Park during the United States government shutdown. This wasn’t the trip Sophie envisioned when she took her handcrafted LUC8K leather handbags and belt to Yellowstone, but it was eye-opening nevertheless. To double the damage already caused by the shutdown, the former Department of Interior Secretary, Ryan Zinke, decided to keep the park open with only a skeleton crew to maintain it and handle tourists. The results were easy to predict as toilets and trashcans were overflowing with human waste. Snowmobiles tore through the park as they...

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Sophie Experiences the Nightlife of Hong Kong

Sophie Experiences the Nightlife of Hong Kong

Sophie travels the world as the LUC8K ambassador and visits some places of great beauty and demanding challenges. When it comes to urban areas, Sophie’s favorite city is Hong Kong, and for plenty of reasons. So for one day, Sophie gets to visit her favorite places in this dynamic city. It’s a world center of business and commerce. Its scenic harbor serves as one of the world’s busiest deep water ports. Its skyline can rival any in the world. It’s a truly 24-hour city. And it’s a meeting place for people around the world where they come to work hard and play even harder. Sophie lands at Hong Kong International Airport and takes the Airport Express Train, and in minutes,...

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Sophie Goes To Mexico City

Sophie Goes To Mexico City

This time, Sophie returned to North America, skipping the United States in favor of Mexico City, the capital, business center, and most important city in Mexico. The country in recent years has been under attack by U.S. President Donald Trump for bringing crime to America and for feeding off the country’s welfare system, among other things he fabricates for applause. Of course, like most of what Trump says, the opposite is true. Sophie discovered that Mexico City is a bustling cosmopolitan metropolis that is culturally sophisticated and filled with charming, friendly people. Art is everywhere and takes shape in every form throughout this vast city. With the agreeable exchange rates, shopping in the large department stores and small boutiques is...

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Sophie Goes Off The Beaten Path in San Francisco

Sophie Goes Off The Beaten Path in San Francisco

The story of San Francisco isn’t written in the history books of academia. Its character, history, color, and mystery are instead recorded in novels, spoken words, and songs. It is in this colorful city of steep hills, cable cars, and clouds of mist where Sophie decided to visit next, taking her handcrafted LUC8K Weekender canvas bag, leather tote, and her lucky reversible leather belt. San Francisco is a city whose history consists of booze, drugs, and brothels. It’s where gay Americans first congregated openly en masse. It was always a place with counterculture instincts and a strong creative bent. Of course, today’s biggest influence is from 20-something-year-olds who turn the world around (for better or worse) with disruptive innovation. It...

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Sophie in Rome and Monaco

Sophie in Rome and Monaco

So where has Sophie been all this time? She’s been spending her days (and nights) with Governor the meerkat in South Africa, living an idyllic life. But now it’s time to head back on the road so Sophie gathered her exclusive Luc8k bags, her trustee cell phone, and she heads to the Eternal City, Rome, and then onward to Monaco to represent Luc8k at the Monaco Symposium on Luxury. Sophie’s combination of travel-savvy, distinctive style, digital prowess, and her commitment to living a sustainably responsible life has made her a popular guest at conferences worldwide. It doesn’t hurt that she’s a giraffe and thus an intriguing conversation starter from the moment she enters a room—but first Rome. If you walk a...

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Sophie Goes To Argentina and Peru

Sophie Goes To Argentina and Peru

Sophie likes to move quickly when traveling, and nothing says fast, sleek, and stylish like the new Weekender duffle bag and the colorful new handmade leather belt. These items will come in handy with her new adventure, a trip to Argentina and Peru, two countries known for their rugged beauty, diverse cultures, and fine cuisine. Landed In Buenos Aires Sophie’s flight landed in Buenos Aires, the largest city in Argentina and one of the most important in South America. It’s a place known for its street art, contemporary design, and preserved Spanish architecture. It is a melting pot with residents and visitors from all over the world. Sophie is hungry, and she headed straight for Cucina Paradiso, one of the...

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Opposites Attract

Opposites Attract

Ever since Sophie was in London and saw a BBC movie about meerkats narrated by Paul Newman, she’s been obsessed with these tiny animals. Their long thin furry bodies just over a foot tall are designed for speed above ground and burrowing underground. They inhabit some of the most difficult, barren and dangerous places on earth yet they appear to live happily in their large families. When they stand tall on their hind legs and peer out with their binocular-like eyes, it’s as if they scan entire swaths of the African deserts where they live. Meerkats are about as different from giraffes as any creature can be, yet Sophie is intoxicated with them. They live so close to her childhood...

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Sophie Goes To Tokyo

Sophie Goes To Tokyo

LUC8K’s fearless traveler, Sophie, flew into Narita Airport and took the train to Tokyo to immediately discover that she was lost and confused. It is a common occurrence. Despite being a highly developed country, it is also one of the most culturally isolated places in the world. Travel writer Paul Theroux once wrote: “It wasn’t possible for a foreigner in Japan to feel anything but an alien species, not just different but backward, a clumsy yokel from the colorful but decrepit past.” Sophie, being pragmatic, regarded her bewilderment as the price of being in Japan Besides a 15-foot-tall giraffe that flies in airplanes, rides in trains, and visits the most populous cities along with the most deserted places in the...

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Paradies Tonga with a jumping whale

Sophie Tries To Disappear In The Paradise of Tonga

Tonga, the name and its far-flung location conjures exotic images of tropical flora and fauna, beautiful beaches and solitude. This reputation is well earned. The country of 169 islands is scattered liked pebbles over 700,000 square kilometers of the deep blue Pacific Ocean among thousands of other pebble-like islands. From the air at sunset they can look as remote as stars in the night sky. Only 36 of the islands are inhabited so like many of these Pacific islands, it’s a place you can disappear if you choose. Of course, Sophie the great explorer has no plans to disappear. She wants to engage and visit even more island nations (Fiji and Bora Bora are on her itinerary). It’s a relatively...

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Sophie Goes Surfing In Australia

Sophie Goes Surfing In Australia

Sophie’s going to the Land Down Under to fill her sense of awe and wonder, with custom handbags for ladies by her side she’s going for another great ride. If a novel was made about a place like Australia it would be deemed unbelievable, even for fiction. It’s a land of extreme diversity with beautiful, populous and dynamic cities on the southeastern coast; an arid, desert interior; and a tropical northern region. Much of the country is uninhabited. However, its isolation provides a unique environment for fauna and flora that dates back to pre-history. Kangaroos and koalas are only a couple of the animals that don’t exist anywhere else on Earth. There are also wombats, emus and several types of goanna...

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Sophie Goes To India

Sophie Goes To India

Instead, it is cacophony of colors, noise, scents and humanity. It’s made up of hundreds of provincial provinces with its own languages, religions, cultures and economies. India is also a place where the richest people on earth live in exalted luxury while the poorest of the poor survive in hopeless squalor. The economy is broken, the government is corrupt and the population is exploding. The dysfunctional social system can’t possibly cope with the endless challenges the population face. The country of over a billion people already is expected to surpass China as the most populous country by 2050. The country seems like a lost cause. But somehow India does move forward. The entrepreneurial spirit is voracious. New businesses form by...

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Sophie Goes Home to Botswana

Sophie Goes Home to Botswana

Sophie was born and raised on the Okavango Delta, a swampy fertile area formed by the Okavango River in the center of the landlocked country. Rich in plant life and animals it is a place that combines unparallel joys of a diverse landscape with abundant food and water. It also has the dangers of sharing a space with predators like hyenas and lions. Its main city is Maun, the fifth largest city in Botswana, the center of the highly lucrative tourism trade and the center of the agriculture trade. Tourists on their way to many safaris in the area mix with ranchers who bring their cattle to sell. Sophie loves the atmosphere but when she wants to get away and...

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Sophie Goes To Antarctica and Learns Some Difficult Facts

Sophie Goes To Antarctica and Learns Some Difficult Facts

The first sign that Sophie was in for a different kind of adventure was when she boarded a military cargo plane. The second sign was when that plane landed on a runway made of ice. The third sign was when she was taken from the station in a giant red “bus” named “Ivan the Terra” with the largest wheels she’d ever seen. Sophie’s destination was the McMurdo Station in Antarctica. When she first feasted her eyes upon the drab looking block of buildings that resembled a construction site or a mining town she was less than impressed. McMurdo serves as the headquarters of the United States Antarctic Program, which manages U.S. scientific research in Antarctica. There are Scientists studying almost...

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Sophie with Her Custom Handbags

Sophie with Her Custom Handbags

New York City is many things to people. It can be the ultimate place to visit, a career-enhancing place to live and a rite of passage. But mostly “The Big Apple” is a state of mind. New York is an idealized version of what the pinnacle of an American urbane lifestyle can be but is rarely achieved. The city, instead, reveals this image in moments. Staring up at the skyline around sunset, or taking in a rooftop view. Attending a cocktail or dinner party where you can literally be between a Noble Prize winning economist and a world-renowned supermodel. It was at one such event where John F. Kennedy first met Marilyn Monroe. Customise Leather Shopper Bag However, for many...

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Sophie Goes To Amsterdam With A Heavy Heart

Sophie Goes To Amsterdam With A Heavy Heart

After leaving the efficient and modern Schiphol Airport in a good mood ready to enjoy the city Sophie received terrible news. The giraffe has been moved from a species of “Least Concern” to “Vulnerable” by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, the organization that administers the world’s official endangered species list. Numbers of giraffe have gone from around 155,000 in 1985 to 97,000 in 2015, according to the organization. The decline is due to habitat loss, poaching and civil unrest in many parts of Africa. The decline is particularly steep in East, Central and West Africa, while numbers are increasing in Southern Africa. The next stages on the IUCN list are endangered, critically endangered, extinct in the wild...

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Sophie Goes To London

Sophie Goes To London

Sophie is one smart Giraffe. She knows when to come to London right after the Brexit vote when the British pound sterling fell to lows not seen in years. She’s not the only jetsetter to take advantage of bargain prices for fashion and luxury. Big spenders from all over the world are coming to London to benefit from the low prices for high-end goods. But it’s not just bargains that bring Sophie to London. It’s the famous style that the city is known for. In particular bespoke tailoring and craftsmanship, from fine shirts and suits to custom-made shoes, that range from the staunchly traditional to modern and chic. As the ambassador for LUC8K, Sophie has a strong appreciation for bespoke...

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Sophie goes to Belgium

Sophie goes to Belgium

Sophie travels everywhere and does everything, but visiting Belgium has her so excited she can barely contain herself. As the ambassador of LUC8K, she’s thrilled about seeing the first store that will sell LUC8K leather bags and accessories. But first there are adventures. For such a small country, Belgium is extremely complex and vitally important within Europe and the rest of the world. It is also a divided country with the Dutch speaking Flemish in the north and French speaking Wallonia in the south. In fact, the only thing the two sides can agree on is that they hold no loyalty to this country called Belgium. This divide has caused the government to completely shut down on a seemingly regular basis.

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Sophie At The GoodFestival

Sophie At The GoodFestival

That’s why Sophie is in the beautiful city of Lausanne. It is where the GoodFestival is being held. The event discovers and promotes the “doers” who are building a better world. But first Sophie lands in Geneva and spends a couple days in the beautiful city on the lake. Her first stop was the Jet d’Eau, the huge Fountain on Geneva Lake. It is the tallest fountain in the world, streaming water 140 meters into the air. It is said to symbolize the “strength, ambition and vitality” of Geneva and Switzerland.” Karen with her bespoke Luc8k leather shopper bag in front of Jet d’Eau Sophie of course had to get as close as possible walking up the pier to the end...

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Sophie Boldly Visits Paris

Sophie Boldly Visits Paris

In Paris, golden hues are most prevalent, from the stone used for many of its monumental buildings to the golden glitter of the street lights and the sparkle of the Eiffel Tower. The changing seasons provide an array of natural color at the Jardin du Luxembourg and Jardin des Tuileries. Not to mention the colorful clothes worn by its fashionable residents. LUC8K is all about fashion and color (“Live Your Color” is its motto) and so is Sophie. She is very much at home in this magnificent city strolling along the boulevards, sitting outside the cafes, enjoying the endless number of bistros, and of course shopping. She visits the hippest store in the city, Colette. The stark white interior with...

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Sophie’s Bucket List

Sophie’s Bucket List

Italy, the long, narrow stretch of land that hangs off southern Europe has everything: miles upon miles of mountains and beaches, along with expansive farmland that serve as the foundation for one of the world’s great cuisines. The Italian people vigorously work to preserve its cultural, architectural and artistic heritage while leaping into the future. This is wholly evident in its largest and most famous cities, where modern society flows freely within many of the most famous monuments of western civilization. Sophie happily entered the country through the maddening Milan–Malpensa Airport and immediately realizes that there is no Italian translation for the word, “queue.” But she eventually makes it out of the airport and into the city of Milan. Italy...

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Sophie the ‘Bit’ of Star Visiting the Land of the Midnight Sun

Sophie the ‘Bit’ of Star Visiting the Land of the Midnight Sun

Sophie is becoming a bit of a star. She appeared in a story on Forbes as the mascot for LUC8K. The story described her as exhibiting style and enjoying life while discussing the importance of sustainability. Despite her newfound fame, she remains a happy ambassador for LUC8K traveling the world discovering new places and cultures with an insatiable appetite for new ventures. There are many reasons why Sophie personifies the lifestyle of LUC8K. She doesn’t wait for trends or worry about what others do. She has her own personal style and she’s happy to display it. However, one of the most important reasons is her fearlessness when it comes to travel. Somehow, someway Sophie managed to get to the remote Svalbard Islands. Getting there...

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Sophie Goes To Rio 2016

Sophie Goes To Rio 2016

Brazil is a country of extreme poverty and enormous wealth, hardships and beauty, vibrancy and crime, enormous cities, and pristine forests. Through it, all Brazilians are united by the spirit of celebration. Even when they protest (which is often) they celebrate. They live in the moment and live the best they can in this diverse, complex, ethnically mixed country. With the Rio 2016 Olympics, the Brazilians zest for celebration has gone global as international visitors share in the delights and dangers of this crazy, colorful, collage of a country. Sophie touched down in time for the opening celebration, with her ticket safe and secure in her bespoke leather wallet she has safely put in her leather shopper bag together with her new...

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Sophie Seeking Answers The Only Way She Knows How

Sophie Seeking Answers The Only Way She Knows How

Travel writer Paul Theroux once wrote that the best and most interesting time to visit a country was during times of unrest and revolution. It’s difficult to imagine that Sophie had this in mind when she decided to visit Manila but she is here now during a time when the country is in the midst of a democratic revolution. Rodrigo Duterte, known for operating “death squads” to curb crime, joking about the gang rape of tourists and antagonizing world leaders as mayor of Davao City in the southern Philippines, was just sworn in as the country’s duly elected president. Yes he is a controversial selection and his methods are cruel and brutal but they have been successful in a country...

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Land of Opportunity

Land of Opportunity

Sophie travels from one concrete jungle to another. Singapore is only 350 kilometers away from Kuala Lumpur, have the same ethnic mix of citizens, but they are different in many ways. Singapore is a modern and efficient city very well organized and business-friendly. Its streets and sidewalks are immaculately clean. It is a far cry from the somewhat chaotic streets of Kuala Lumpur. Even the street food is organized into clean and comfortable hawker centers, which are beloved among its citizens and tourists. Sophie loves these collections of food vendors paying for each treat using her LUC8K leather wallet and saving her leftovers in her customized leather tote. However, it does lack the spontaneity that made Kuala Lumpur so much fun. The modern-day...

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Sophie Is Our Favourite Client And Spokeswoman!

Sophie Is Our Favourite Client And Spokeswoman!

In a world of ever-changing fashion and trends, Sophie’s appearance is distinct and unique. She is tall and slender with long legs and curves in all the right places. She stands out in any crowd not only because of her height but because she radiates dignity. Her neck, like her legs, is long and lean. Her angular features remind one of a Victorian portrait. Her unusually long dark lashes reveal eyes that can stare straight into your soul. Words have little use to her as her facial expressions can deliver a message with much more effect. The thing we enjoy the most about Sophie is her obvious attraction to color. She loves color. Every day, she is bathed in color...

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Go With The Flow

Go With The Flow

Sophie goes to Kuala Lumpur to witness the town’s diverse culture and to showcase her LUC8K style highlighting her creativity Giraffes don’t normally venture outside of Africa unless it’s against their will. Not Sophie. Armed with her customized LUC8K bags and accessories she lives the jet-set life. Not only does she venture outside her home continent but she will go to places where wildlife would never go for an adventure. For example, Sophie was recently in the Malaysian city of Kuala Lumpur, home to more than 1.7 million people squeezed into an area of just 94 square kilometers. Usually, big metropolises and wildlife don’t mix but Sophie delights in the change of pace. The tall trees throughout the city provide...

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Beautiful and Functional

Beautiful and Functional

Being the tallest mammal on the planet has its advantages. No one understands this more than Sophie. Her long legs can travel great distances quickly. While giraffes are known to sprint up to 60 kilometers per hour, she prefers to make her way at a more deliberate pace. But she still moves quickly as it’s in her nature. This ability to cover ground rapidly makes her the perfect traveler. Africa is the world’s second-largest continent and Sophie travels easily throughout its vast, diverse, and beautiful land. A native of Botswana, she often visits her family there and also in southern Zimbabwe and Mozambique. While in her native land she makes sure to visit Victoria Falls, one of the great natural...

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