Chopard offers an exquisite range of carefully curated luxury accessories, each chosen to showcase specific artisanal skills as part of the Maison's quest to preserve crafts otherwise at risk of being forgotten. This summer, it’s all eyes on Madagascan raffia, with the exciting launch of the new Happy Hearts Raffia Tote Bag. Like leather, and depending on its use, natural raffia develops a beautiful patina over time. Combined with the fact that each one is hand-crafted and therefore shows slight differences, this means that each bag has its own distinctive appeal. Chic, natural and 100% handmade, not only is it perfect for the beach, a shopping trip, or lunch in town, but its summery charm, seaside appeal and responsible approach are a testament to Chopard's artisan-led creativity and authentic ethical values.

Embracing nature's elegance

In line with the Maison’s ethos of promoting different artisans annually, in 2023 Chopard has chosen to place the spotlight on Madagascar and its raffia-work tradition. A straw-like material obtained from a palm tree that grows on this Indian Ocean island, the pale green, freshly-cut strands are stripped and sun dried. The dried raffia fibres then turn beige in colour, resulting in a natural look. Every step of the production process – from harvesting to drying – is done manually by local artisans with due care for the environmental impact it may have. Local laws also contribute to the preservation of the raffia palm trees by limited the harvesting of raffia palm from June to October each year to allow the branches (raffia) to regrow before the start of the next harvest. Like leather, and depending on its use, natural raffia develops a magnificent patina over time. Combined with the fact that each one is hand-crafted and therefore has slight differences, each Happy Hearts Raffia Luxury Tote Bag has its own unique appeal.