A LOT of fashion's power lies in escapism. Telling a story through your clothes, or transporting you somewhere else – and in times like this, some fashion escapism can feel even more important than ever, helping to boost your mood and whisk you off on a virtual holiday.
This is where raffia fits in perfectly: the material which took over the spring/summer catwalks, with a beachy and eco-friendly vibe.
Trendsetting brand Simone Rocha – headed by the Dublin designer of that name and much loved by it-girls like Chloe Sevigny and Lily Cole – spearheaded the obsession for raffia in their SS20 London Fashion Week show, creating whole outfits made from the material. Raffia dresses aren't the most wearable of things, but designers are championing the material through accessories.
Over the past few years, fashion's environmental impact and what the industry can do to improve it has become a hot topic – and it's an issue that has really come to the fore during the coronavirus crisis.
A major aspect of this is thinking about the materials used in production, which partly explains why raffia has become so popular. Raffia comes from a certain type of palm tree, which is native to Madagascar and grows across Africa. A fibre is extracted from the tree and woven to make everything from clothes to mats and hats. Even though straw and raffia come from two different plants, they look similar and have been used almost interchangeably in fashion over the years.
Straw has been around for a while but often has a slightly dated reputation – think the sort of floppy hats your nan wears to the beach. Now though, along with raffia, it's been given a modern, fashionable update. Here's how to wear it...
THE BAGS...
There are two ruling styles here: big and little. On the one side, you have the tinier bags, often clutches or small pouches with an extra long strap to wrap around your body. A mini bucket bag also proved popular on the catwalk. Luckily, there was also a more practical style of raffia bag: a bigger, slouchier version. These look much more like beach bags and are a modern take on the boho bag.
THE SHOES...
Shoes entirely made out of raffia sound pretty uncomfortable, which is why the trend errs towards subtle accents when it comes to footwear. This could be a woven heel or a straw-based section of the shoe. Raffia is a distinctly summery material, which means it works particularly well with beachy styles like sandals or wedges.
THE EXTRAS...
Instead of sticking to a predictable floppy straw style with your headwear, choose interesting details to make it look fresh. This could be geometric cut-outs or pearl additions – it doesn't have to be anything too OTT, but enough to put a modern spin on the classic straw hat. If a straw hat really isn't your style, you can still get in on the trend with a simple headband made from raffia.
