By TRILBY BERESFORD | Reporter
Even with all the options available, a good travel bag is hard to find. It has to be robust and elegant, while being practical for every day use. Bonus points if said bag can transform into an evening clutch for a night out on the town.
Amanda Schuon, who grew up in The Riviera and now resides in Brentwood, recently launched Artifact Eight, a company that offers luxury waist packs, coin clutches and toiletry cases made from hand-cast rubber molds of animal skins—python, stingray, alligator belly and caiman.
“Our faux skin bags celebrate the majesty of exotic creatures without negatively impacting their populations,” the website states.
Schuon explained to the Palisadian-Post that she has a “bleeding heart for animals of all kinds,” and therefore feels passionate about the key “luxury without cruelty” aspect of Artifact Eight.
She came across this particular material five years ago and just knew it would be ideal for the common commute, as well as more involved travel.
When Schuon arrived to her interview with the Post, she was using the large clutch to store her makeup, phone and wallet.
“It’s not about ‘hardcore veganism,’” Schuon said, but rather, making the choice to step out with something refined that can also contain all necessary possessions. “The material really is the shining star,” Schuon added. Her bags are sold via artifacteight.com and also at Roseark in West Hollywood.
In the fall, Schuon will be working on backpacks, computer cases and cross-body bags to expand her collection. “My 13-year-old daughter’s friends are asking for pencil cases, too,” Schuon said with a laugh.
Schuon’s background is in public relations, and her Truth Be Told PR company has been going steady for 16 years. She has traveled extensively throughout her career, including a stint working for the Marriot Corporation in Vietnam.
This worldly perspective is ideal for the everyday challenges of travel accessories.
Visit artifacteight.com to learn more. Instagram: @artifacteight.
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