Industry News

Africa is at the root of Luca Gnecchi Ruscone’s history, creativity, and his visionary dreams and hopes for the future. Explorations in his grandfather’s optical warehouse in Eritrea, Africa where he found vintage sunglasses triggered Luca’s passion for eyewear, and his love of Africa. The result is Luca’s abiding desire to celebrate the amazing patrimony and culture of both his African and Italian heritage, plus help people through social enterprise. Among his projects are L.G.R sunglass chains that are handmade by Maasai women in Kenya.

Luca Gnecchi Ruscone

The latest L.G.R initiative is a collaboration with Space for Giants  – exclusive handcrafted frames in support of the charity campaign to stop illegal wildlife trade, and the commitment to a more sustainable future. L.G.R’s curated selection of four elegant frames will contribute to protecting key ecosystems and landscapes so they can continue to deliver clean water, air, food, and other natural resources that are essential to planetary health.

Space for Giants is an international conservation organization that protects Africa’s remaining natural ecosystems and the wildlife they contain, whilst bringing major economic and social value to local communities and national governments. The charity uses technology it pioneered to reduce human-elephant conflict and works with a wide range of individuals including African presidents, academics, and philanthropists, among others, to bring new supporters to its cause.

Sammy in L.G.R Jambo

The Space for Giants Kenyan team includes Sammy, wearing Jambo and Redempta in Dakhla (pictured) who kindly posed for an impromptu photo shoot in the field to model the Special Edition L.G.R frames.  Sammy and Redempta play integral roles to help stop illegal wildlife crime. Sammy oversees a broad portfolio of projects geared at reducing conflict between people and wildlife and laying the foundations for food security, livelihood improvement, and peaceful coexistence. Sammy has led the implementation of electric fences, supported the delivery of strategies that have developed close working relationships with a range of stakeholders, bridging the gap from those affected to those working to implement strategic interventions.

Redempta in L.G.R Dakhal

Redempta’s work in conservation science focuses on designing data models for ecological monitoring and elephant movement tracking using GPS satellite collars. A key individual in the Conservation Science team, Redempta works very closely with local rangers, fence builders, and scouts across Kenya, collating spatial data and analysis to provide information crucial for management decisions that promote wildlife protection, habitat connectivity and human conflict mitigation.

Space for Giants CEO Dr. Max Graham said: “We are delighted to be collaborating with L.G.R on this exclusive collection. With L.G.R’s support, we will continue to work with our Government partners to sustainably manage these natural landscapes and protect these vital natural resources before they are lost forever.”

L.G.R Space for Giants

Luca Gnecchi Ruscone, Founder/CEO at L.G.R commented: “Africa to me means freedom and hope. It is a place like no other that must be preserved for generations to come. However, I have also seen the dangers of poaching first hand, and that is why I am very happy to be able to support Space for Giants efforts to end the illegal wildlife trade.”

Through every purchase of the Special Edition collection L.G.R for Space for Giants, proceeds will go towards supporting the work to save endangered animals and stop the illegal wildlife trade. The frames are available for both optical and sun lenses, and a sustainable vegan fabric is used for the durable, exquisite glass case made from embossed apple leather.

L.G.R Case

Original link:https://www.opticaljournal.com/euroinsights-l-g-r-collaboration-with-space-for-giants/