Lisa Hu knows what it’s like to be constantly on the move. At one time, she’d start her days at 5 a.m., working as a finance director throughout the day before attending evening classes to earn her MBA. She also often traveled for work. “I tried all these different bags and struggled to find one that would look professional and serve the function I needed day to day,” she says. So she launched her own line, Lux and Nyx, made by the same manufacturer who once made Prada bags. She’s documenting her journey on her blog 52weekstartup.blogspot.com.
Where does the name Lux and Nyx come from? It’s Greek for “light and night” and a representation of time or life changes. The notion behind it is that this is a bag that takes you through all the different scenarios, from day to night.
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You emphasize that your bags are eco-friendly and cruelty-free. What materials do you use? Upcycled and vegan leather. Usually only 50 percent of calfskin is used and the rest is thrown away, but with our Freedom Fiber material, we upcycle that leather, using up to 90 percent. We are also using the vegan material to full capacity. It’s extremely durable, so it will last.
Can you give an example of a feature that sets Lux and Nyx bags apart? A separate shoe compartment is built into our bags. Women on the go are normally throwing their shoes in with all of their other stuff or putting them in an ugly plastic bag, which doesn’t look chic if you’re wearing a smart business suit.
Who’s your typical customer? Someone who’s working on her career—a rock star at what she does who is going places.
