The Enduring Charm of Straw Handbags

Getting your wardrobe summer-ready? A straw handbag is a must-have accessory. The versatile carry-all, crafted from bamboo, raffia, palm leaves, seagrass or natural straw, has a rich history in fashion, evolving from ancient basket styles into modern statement pieces over decades.

Straw bags rose to prominence in the 1940s, marketed with natural materials from Milan, Madagascar and Morocco. Most bags were produced by lesser-known designers, fueling designs that complemented warm-weather wardrobes. Women’s Wear Daily, citing the growing popularity of these bags in a 1949 review, “Fashion Significances in Accessories: They Are Wearing at Palm Beach” called them a “good companion for all types of dress fabrics.” In the 1950s, demand continued to surge. Leather-trimmed straw basket bags, lacy openwork styles and oversize totes in natural tones became staples for fashionable vacation spots in California, Palm Beach and the Hamptons for city dwellers in the summer months.

The 1960s and 1970s saw the evolution of the straw bag as a style statement. Iconic destinations like Acapulco and the French Riviera embraced the new oversize straw tote and satchel styles as vacation wardrobe chic. Fashion icon Jane Birkin elevated the bag’s status, which was actually a basket, from practical to must-have. Jewelry designer and model Elsa Peretti also introduced high-fashion interpretations, including her 1975 straw pouch for Halston, which complemented the era’s lighter, easy-flowing silhouettes.

Though straw bags faded somewhat in the 1980s, WWD saw the trend of smaller, polished styles from designer Valentino Garavani as the perfect accessory for urbane tailored looks that reappeared in the 1990s. By the end of the decade, designer brands Donna Karan, Ralph Lauren, Fendi, Salvatore Ferragamo and Kate Spade revived their allure. Spade’s playful interpretations famously reimagined vintage styles from the 1950s and 1960s as contemporary collectibles. Jacquemus would follow suit, debuting its now collectible “Soli” raffia basket bag for spring 2020 during its runway show in Provence, France.

Today, the oversize straw tote bag, alongside other classic shapes and styles, continues to reflect the easy elegance of decades past. Whether minimally embellished or boldly colored, the timeless appeal of straw handbags endures as a perennial summer favorite, both practical and fashionable — the perfect companion for city strolls as well as seaside sojourns.