Natural and Flexible, Raffia Is Spring’s Must-Have Fabric

Our April Issue features “Rock Stars,” a beautiful fashion spread set amid ancient stone formations in Portugal, featuring spirited crocheted dresses paired with bags made from this spring (and summer’s) It material—raffia.

The rise of whimsical and unfussy raffia is no random occurrence. There’s an overarching cultural shift toward sustainability, compelling designers and fashionphiles alike toward earth tones and materials like raffia with a natural feel. Accessories that employ straw and raffia also “play with form, pattern, color—and fun.” With its unruly, often hard-to-tame texture, raffia accessories can feel undone and almost imperfect. That’s an appealing trait at this moment — the kind of accessory that doesn’t take itself too seriously.

Ahead, find 23 springtime staples from covetable basket bags to raffia-clad shoes that are worth wearing everywhere for the warm months to come.