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Raffia Bags Are An It-Girl Favourite – These Are The 13 Best To Buy Now
From leather-backed woven totes to boho basket vibes, find your new favourite.
Raffia bags have long been a summer mainstay, but they've felt particularly covetable this year. It's not just an ELLE UK hunch, either: Net-a-Porter customer searches for this accessory have increased by 240 per cent in the last three months. It seems we all want to get in on the laissez faire breed of elegance that finds inspiration in the wardrobes of Jane Birkin (when she wasn't carrying her namesake Hermès it was always something raffia or straw), Alexa Chung and every street style star with a Loewe on her arm.
It's also worth considering that, perhaps down to the boho renaissance, or fashion's current penchant for natural textures – suede is back in a big way, too. Either way, the current fever goes way beyond the standard basket bag you take abroad once a year.
In 2025, raffia has been reimagined for work (with sturdy leather-backed totes), for the city (think teeny tiny shoulder bags), for play (souped-up clutches for weddings) and of course for the beach (enormous hobo totes that'll fit everything but the kitchen sink).
The Best Raffia Bags At A Glance
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What Is Raffia?
But what exactly is raffia? Helen Kaminiski, the Australian designer who's been working with this fabric in her accessories since 1983, explains:
'Although both straw and raffia are natural fibres, they are very different in their origin and attributes. Straw is the dry stalk of cereal plants such as rice, rye, corn, oats and barley. Since it is a by-product of grain harvests, it is inexpensive and plentiful. It absorbs moisture, can become quite brittle over time, and is a stiff fibre meaning it cannot easily be manipulated for fit or shape. Raffia, on the contrary, has a natural resin in its leaves which increases its longevity; it also makes each strand flexible and pliant but also wonderfully resilient and slightly waterproof, preventing it from cracking.'
So that explains why the raffia has taken off in a separate entity to the beach-staple straw bag. And it also affirms that, although it is a natural fibre that will wear with age, raffia is well worth the investment. So perhaps you can afford to splash out on that investment after all... but if not, we've included affordable bag options from as little as £50.
ELLE's Edit Of The Best Raffia Bags To Buy Now:
We’re kicking things off with DeMellier’s Capri bag because it’s the kind of piece that’ll see you through several seasons. The sustainable raffia (which took years to source, as most fibres are laced with plastic, founder Mireia Llusia-Lindh tells ELLE) is backed by tan leather for structure and a slick city vibe.
Also currently spiking in searches on Net-a-Porter is Chloé's raffia bag. It’s no secret the French fashion house is hot property at the moment and basically owns the boho aesthetic. Trend or no trend, this accessory is always a wardrobe mainstay.
The Polène tote bag is our favourite in this edit. It’s made from hand-crocheted raffia that has a unique knotted, honeycomb effect. Paired with the sculptural shape and overstitched tan leather, this tote will translate beyond the beach.
M&S’ oversized tote has a high-fashion silhouette. In jet-black raffia with a sculptural gold handle, this hobo bag has a cool, late-Sixties feel.
We don’t need to tell you that shell motifs and raffia are some of summer 2025’s biggest accessory trends. So, why not tick two boxes in one with this Sensi Studio clutch bag?
Another great beach-to-city option. Made from neutral raffia, this roomy tote is trimmed with black leather and topped with silver studs. Carry it in-hand or over the shoulder by switching between strap lengths.
Scalloped edging and clever seams means Radley’s tote is tapping into this season’s obsession with all things shell. This raffia bag is unlined but comes with a sewn-in drawstring bag and cardholder so you can store essentials.
The Loewe Paula’s Ibiza collection has been going for eight years now. And, lest we forget, it’s the collaboration that's launched many a basket bag. This season’s version features different raffia weaves, rainbow stripe trims and leather accents.
Khaite has reimagined its signature Olivia bag in soft raffia for SS25. If you don’t do throw-it-all-in open beach bags, you’ll appreciate the zip fastening on this one.
A great evening option, Simkhai’s bag is a simple but elevated take on the trend. Made from unlined raffia for a lightweight feel, it’s topped with a twisted gold-tone handle that’s a talking point all on its own.
& Other Stories’ tote is made from a woven raffia and piped in black for contrast. Choose from this shade or an on-trend chocolate hue.
This Staud bag is the perfect summer wedding guest accessory, but it’ll also work at al fresco dinners abroad. Made from cream raffia, it’s dotted with irregular pearlescent beads to create a beautiful iridescent effect.
Helen Kaminski knows raffia. In fact, the Aussie designer first came to fame back in 1983 when she launched a hat made of the stuff – her first bag came later in 1990. This Lipari style is crafted in a large bucket shape and trimmed with tan leather.
Abigail Southan is our Senior Fashion Ecommerce Editor and has five years' experience as a writer and editor in the industry. Abigail has a BA in History from the University of Bristol and an MA in Fashion Journalism from Central Saint Martins. Abigail currently covers all things style and shopping across titles including Harper’s Bazaar, ELLE, Esquire and Red. On a daily basis, she helps readers buy better with how-to-wear guides, first-person product reviews and deep dives into the latest trends. Previously, Abigail has worked for The Sunday Times’ Style and Fabulous magazine as their first ecommerce writer and was a founding editor of Sun Selects. She has also written for Net-a-Porter, I-D, Man About Town, Wonderland and 1 Granary, and has interviewed the likes of Paris Hilton, Dua Lipa and Christopher Bailey. You can follow Abigail on Instagram at @abigailsouthan.
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