Between style and sustainability: the raffia bag is the must-have for spring and summer.

Raffia Bags: The Trend Has Exploded.

Accessory lovers, this article is dedicated exclusively to you.

If you too, like me, are looking for trends to flaunt this spring and summer, you've come to the right place. Given the great success of the article in which we talked about Crochet Bags, the models for spring and summer, who am I not to show them to you in detail? If you need summer vibes, freshness, colors, and sustainability, you should take notes and not miss the following guidelines.

If you too, like me, feel like catapulting into a parallel world made of travel, well yes, I was about to forget that the accessory we will talk about today is a true classic of vacation style, suitable for both city walks and seaside strolls, where sand and the scent of saltwater stir adrenaline within us. To keep it brief, I can tell you that all this translates into one accessory: RAFFIA BAG. 

Technical Information About Raffia.

Before diving into the world of raffia bags, let's understand what it is, how it is used, how to clean it, etc...

What is Raffia?

It is a vegetable fiber obtained from the ribbons of the upper epidermis of the leaves of some palms belonging to the raffia genus, used for weaving works.

Baskets, small pouches, maxi bags, totes, it is a material that is durable yet lightweight, elegant, and gives an extra touch to all fashion enthusiasts.

Why is Raffia Used?

It is used for creating accessories, home decorations, and for agricultural works. With this tape, you can create bags, accessories like belts and hats, baskets, frames for your mirrors, placemats, breakfast table mats, garden table runners or terrace runners; you can use it for almost anything.

How to Clean Raffia?

As mentioned at the beginning, Raffia is a natural material, so to avoid ruining a project once it is finished, you must be careful and follow these simple steps for cleaning.

Cleaning a Raffia Bag:

• Remove surface dirt from the bag with a dry cloth or a brush with soft bristles
• Prepare a solution of lukewarm water and neutral soap, avoiding too aggressive detergents or chemicals
• Immerse a sponge in this solution, or a soft cloth, and gently rub the bag.
• Make sure not to over-wet the raffia bag as it could get damaged
• Rinse carefully with soap-free water and dry with a clean, dry cloth.
• Let the bag air dry, avoiding direct exposure to sunlight or heat sources.

Handmade Raffia Bags.

In our community, spring has arrived and many are starting to show us their creations made with this tape. I remind you that in our catalog, you will find raffia in three versions:

Natural Raffia, Matt Raffia, and Twisted Raffia, a new arrival in solid and bicolor versions.

• natural lilac raffia sky blue raffia twisted sage raffia
• bicolor twisted raffia

Creative Ideas.

Even the most clicked creatives on the web have made a significant contribution to the creation of raffia bags. I thought of offering you a collection of bag models to make by hand.

Let's start with the ideas I selected from the YouTube channel of Fata Tuttofare.

Primrose Series Crossbody Bag.

Here is a simple and quick way to make a wonderful handmade crossbody with a raffia base and embellished with colorful floral applications, a small bag model to flaunt during sunset walks or in the evening, when the moon illuminates the end of a rushed day. For the instructions, I leave you with the video tutorial:

• blush raffia yellow Amanda yarn closure

Raffia Pochette with Bamboo Clasp.

It is known that the bamboo and raffia combo gives off easy chic vibes, so I thought of proposing a model to carry by hand, ideal for outings with friends or when we don't need to carry much. In this video, you will discover a simple stitch worked diagonally. To give the pochette more structure, a bag net was also applied. Let's start with the explanations:

Here are the materials to use:

• fuchsia raffia bamboo clasp net

Flat Raffia Bag.

A model to carry by hand, is certainly this maxi pochette that you can make in either two colors or one. Summer's chic touch? Use two similar colors, pink and fuchsia for example, or burgundy and red, or contrasting colors like lilac and lime green.

In the video, you will find a model of shiny twisted raffia recently replaced by the new matte version, more elegant and natural.

• green raffia bag handles twisted raffia

LINK TO NEW RAFFIA

Bucket Bag Trend for Spring/Summer.

Special mention to the trend bag for this spring-summer, I'm talking about the bucket model, which is made starting from a round base and then the work develops vertically. A model by Fata was made with jute, but nothing stops you from trying it with raffia:

• Liverpool handle black raffia white raffia

Raffia Bag with Embroidered Flowers.

Yes, this model could be perfect for your summer vacations, for post-work walks, for bureaucratic errands, or other tasks. In short, a spacious model to flaunt with both casual looks and shirt dresses.

• twisted blush raffia bag rings crochet hook 

Now let's fly to France, to the home of Cao Crochet Maniak, it is a mini pochette made by hand with Raffia, which evokes the sea a lot, let's discover it here: 

• blush raffia white raffia crochet hook

Trending Colors for Spring and Summer.

Fans of good vibes, smiles, freshness, and adrenaline, grab your crochet hooks and opt for vivid and glamorous colors for this beautiful season, the colors to put in your cart are:

Fuchsia, turquoise, yellow, light blue, green, red, white, lilac, fluorescent shades.

For elegance lovers, opt for chic colors like:

Burgundy, blue, black, lilac.

The Models.

No matter the size, the important thing is that it is made of raffia.

Have I convinced you, and you want to try making a raffia bag but don't know what size to make? Remember, there's something for everyone. Yes to mini crossbodies, pochettes, handbags, shoulder bags, click clacks, large and spacious tote bags, round bags, half-moon bags, buckets, shopper bags, you really have a wide choice. One idea could be a maxi bag made with raffia, bamboo handles, and fringe on the edge, which DON'T FORGET we can show off again this year in our looks.

How Much Raffia is Needed to Make a Bag?

STOP, it's not always easy to give a simple and concise answer to a question like this because before determining a quantity, a few factors need to be evaluated:

precise dimensions, the stitch pattern, the project, the colors to use, the twist, the crochet hook size you decide to use, etc...

For a bag of MEDIUM SIZE with a 30x10cm base, about 350/450g might be needed.

From the Web

I've also thought of proposing some bag models offered by various shops and fashion houses if you don't feel ready to crochet on your own.

Mango, HM, Zara have contributed to the raffia trend, as well as famous fashion houses like Prada, Elisabetta Franchi, Luisa Spagnoli, Max Mara...

One of my favorite models is the proposal by Luisa Spagnoli with the multicolor raffia pochette, simple and lively.

Now you are ready, and I hope I have clarified some doubts about this fabulous material called RAFFIA. Get to work, create your own proposal so that those who see you walking will envy that little gem of a bag you'll flaunt all around the world.

Good summer vibes.

Rosaria Tessiland«