The Sak is the original California lifestyle brand built on authentic design and handcrafted details. Each high quality leather and hand crocheted bag is created thoughtfully to reflect our love of craftsmanship, artistry and global influences.

FROM BALI TO SAN FRANCISCO, A RICH TEXTURED HISTORY

The Sak’s philosophy is happy & free. Peace and harmony among all things is interwoven into our spirit, our deep rooted heritage and our down-to-earth style. Friends from childhood, Mark Talucci and Todd Elliott both grew up overseas. Their love for finding and importing unique textiles was drawn from going to local hippie fairs in places like Brazil and Mexico, where Mark lived most of childhood. Both unenthused by their lackluster corporate jobs after college, Mark and Todd found inspiration during a trip to Bali, Indonesia in 1989 where they were intrigued by the extraordinary objects and artisan fabrics they discovered. Both natural entrepreneurs, Mark with a degree in engineering and Todd in business administration, they decided to start a business importing these «found treasures» from overseas to their hometown San Francisco. The idea of bags was a fluke that came to life at a Superbowl Party in 1989. Although the 49er’s won that year, it was Todd’s sisters’ bag that was the hit of the party. It was a simple rattan and leather bag created from an everyday sleeping mat that she had brought back to San Francisco from a recent trip to Indonesia. There was something about the simplicity of the bag and the hand craftsmanship that made the bag special and different than anything they had seen in the states. It was then, in the beauty and simplicity of a hand-woven rattan sleeping mat, that the Elliott Lucca brand was born.

FROM RATTAN TO CROCHET, AN INTERWOVEN LOVE STORY

After embarking on their entrepreneurial journey into the world of fashion, Mark and Todd were soon challenged with taking their brand to the next level. In 1994, the imported rattan bags were blowing off shelves at major retailers sparking Mark and Todd to go a step further. The idea for The Sak brand stemmed from a simple, memorable, casual and relaxed bag with universal appeal. Staying true to texture, they created a singular bag from a unique Tightweaveâ„¢ fabrication using hand-crocheted nylon string. Starting a crochet «craze», The Sak bag Style 120 was an overnight hit. It soon became one the most coveted items of the 90’s coining the phrase «a sak on every back».

THE ICONIC SAK LADY

The iconic Sak lady was the brainchild of Mark and Todd, who in the Fall of 1994, paid a designers sister $200 to model for their first ad campaign. After ninety-nine shots were taken, Mark was still not satisfied with the photos. Before the hundredth shot was taken, the decision was made to expose the model in her simplest, most-natural form by having her pose nude. The idea gave the ad more sensuality and highlighted the natural curve of her figure against the curve of the relaxed crochet bag. The Sak lady is still The Sak’s most iconic image.

HAND-CROCHETING THE FUTURE

Since then, The Sak has grown into a lifestyle collection featuring hand-crocheted and casual leather bags, mini bags, fashion accessories, tech, travel, home and shoes and has plans to continue to grow into new categories. The brand remains true to its woven heritage as a house of texture.