Vanessa Bruno
Openwork Braided Raffia Tote
This is an openwork braided raffia tote from Vanessa Bruno, crafted in Madagascar from natural raffia. It features a square, spacious silhouette with grab or shoulder handles, an openwork braided construction, and a signature dust bag included. Measuring 15.75 inches (40 cm) in height, 16.5 inches (42 cm) in length, and 4 inches (10 cm) in width, it is designed for use as a casual, roomy summer carryall.
- Material
- Braided raffia
- Gender
- female
- Style
- casual, boho-chic, artisan, classic
- Category
- Apparel & Accessories > Handbags, Wallets & Cases > Handbags
Size
Specifications
Artisanal raffia tote with openwork detailing, crafted in Madagascar for a summer-ready, Parisian-chic aesthetic.
Braided raffia, openwork design, spacious square shape, dual carry handles, includes dust bag.
- Material
- Braided raffia
- Style
- casual, boho-chic, artisan, classic
- Occasion
- vacation, beach-day, everyday
- Gender
- female
- Age Group
- adult
- Condition
- new
- Dimensions
- 16.5x4x15.75 in
- Category
- Apparel & Accessories > Handbags, Wallets & Cases > Handbags
Additional Attributes
- braided raffia construction
- openwork design for lightweight breathability
- grab handles or shoulder carry options
- spacious square silhouette
- artisanal handcrafted aesthetic
- made in Madagascar
- includes signature dust bag
- measurements: 15.75" height, 16.5" length, 4" width
Product Insights
A beach-ready tote woven from premium Madagascar raffia, the Vanessa Bruno Openwork Braided Raffia Tote offers a self-cleaning design that sheds sand and packs flat for travel, yet its open weave and delicate fibers make it prone to snagging, stretching, and damage from moisture or sunscreen, while the open top and lack of closure risk small items slipping out, all at a competitive $395 CAD price point.
Verified claims
- Madagascar raffia
- 100% Madagascar raffia with longer, more resilient fibers than other sources.
- Use cases
- Open weave sieves sand, bag packs flat, handles allow shoulder carry; no closure.
- Competitive pricing
- At $395 CAD, it is cheaper than Ganni (€445) and Jenni Kayne ($525 USD).
- Openwork design
- The openwork weave sheds sand and compresses flat but is fragile and prone to snagging.
- Closure and carry
- Open at the top with no closure; handles work for hand and shoulder carry.
- Sand sieve
- The open weave lets sand fall through; because the tote is open at the top, small items are not retained.
- Durability
- Bag is delicate; rain and sunscreen can stain or damage the fibers.
- Compressibility
- Bag collapses flat for easy travel packing.
- Packability
- Folds nearly flat but has no closure.
- Self-cleaning
- Open weave lets sand fall through, self-cleaning at beach.
- Care
- Avoid water and sunscreen; if wet, dry with newspaper and steam creases.
- Material
- The openwork raffia is fragile and prone to snagging and dye transfer.
- Fragile design
- Vanessa Bruno's care instructions label the raffia as fragile and precious; the tote has an open top and is made from Madagascar raffia.
- Open weave
- Openwork weave is compressible and self-cleans sand, but prone to snagging.
- Snagging risk
- The openwork weave is prone to snagging on sharp objects and has reduced tensile strength.
- Water resistance
- Raffia is not water-treated; moisture damages fibers and may alter color.
- Dye transfer
- Colored raffia may transfer dye onto light clothing when rubbed.
- Craftsmanship
- The tote is handcrafted in Madagascar from raffia.
- Capacity
- The tote offers a substantial open carryall capacity for beach or daily use.
Product record
- Title
- Openwork Braided Raffia Tote
- Brand
- Vanessa Bruno
- Price
- 395 CAD
- Availability
- Out of stock
Image Analysis
3 images- 01
Product
Front-facing rectangular openwork woven raffia tote with two rounded braided handles, visible embroidered brand name across the center front, and a flat base resting on a surface.
- Overall silhouetteRectangular tote with a wide flat base and squared corners; bag is shown upright and facing forward.
1 region
x 0.12 · y 0.18 · w 0.76 · h 0.64 (high) - Material and weaveOpenwork braided raffia or straw construction with a loose grid-like lattice pattern on upper and lower panels and tighter horizontal crochet rows across the central panel.
1 region
x 0.14 · y 0.20 · w 0.72 · h 0.60 (high) - HandlesTwo rounded braided handles made from the same raffia material, attached to the top edge and forming an arch above the bag.
1 region
x 0.30 · y 0.03 · w 0.40 · h 0.36 (high) - Edge finishingThicker braided trim runs along the vertical side edges and top opening, forming a reinforced border.
3 regions
x 0.12 · y 0.18 · w 0.03 · h 0.64 (medium); x 0.85 · y 0.18 · w 0.03 · h 0.64 (medium); x 0.25 · y 0.18 · w 0.50 · h 0.06 (medium) - Brand embroidery“Centered embroidered or printed block text reading VANESSA BRUNO across the middle horizontal band in dark contrasting color.”
1 region
x 0.18 · y 0.44 · w 0.64 · h 0.14 (high) - Base and shadowFlat base with a small cast shadow visible beneath the bag at the bottom edge, indicating the bag is resting on a surface.
1 region
x 0.20 · y 0.76 · w 0.60 · h 0.10 (medium)
Other
Studio product shot centered on a light neutral background with soft even lighting and minimal shadow; image is cropped to include full bag and handle arch.
- BackgroundUniform light gray background with no visible props or packaging.
- Lighting and shadowSoft even frontal lighting with a subtle shadow below the bag toward the front edge.
- Shot compositionBag is centered in frame and presented front-facing; top of the handle is near the upper third of the image.
Colors
natural raffia beige· woven body and handles#DCBB8Cblack· brand text- Overall silhouetteRectangular tote with a wide flat base and squared corners; bag is shown upright and facing forward.
- 02
Product
Side view of a rectangular openwork braided raffia tote showing the side gusset, flat base, tubular handles and alternating open and solid braided panels.
- Overall shapeTall rectangular tote with a flat rectangular base and a pronounced side gusset, producing a boxy silhouette when viewed from the side.
1 region
x 0.02 · y 0.06 · w 0.70 · h 0.90 (high) - Material and weaveNatural raffia or straw-like braided material formed into openwork crochet panels alternating with tighter, solid horizontal braided bands.
1 region
x 0.10 · y 0.08 · w 0.82 · h 0.83 (high) - Openwork patternSquare/rectangular open holes created by an open crochet stitch visible on upper and lower sections of the bag body.
2 regions
x 0.30 · y 0.10 · w 0.60 · h 0.40 (high); x 0.30 · y 0.57 · w 0.60 · h 0.33 (high) - Solid braided bandsSeveral horizontal tightly braided bands with minimal open holes run across the middle section providing visual contrast to the openwork.
1 region
x 0.28 · y 0.40 · w 0.62 · h 0.16 (high) - Side gusset constructionVertical stitched edge trim runs along the side gusset seam, forming a squared-off outer edge and reinforced vertical border.
1 region
x 0.02 · y 0.08 · w 0.12 · h 0.86 (high) - Base detailFlat base with a continuous braided finish matching the bag body and a slightly rounded corner where the base meets the side gusset.
1 region
x 0.02 · y 0.78 · w 0.58 · h 0.18 (high) - HandlesTwo tubular braided handles made from the same raffia material visible at the top, attached through reinforced openings in the top band.
1 region
x 0.44 · y 0.00 · w 0.36 · h 0.22 (medium) - Top edge detailTop edge finished with the same braided trim and a shallow scalloped dip where the handle openings occur.
1 region
x 0.28 · y 0.00 · w 0.60 · h 0.18 (medium)
Other
Studio product shot on a neutral light gray background with soft shadow at the base; image cropped to show the bag side and partial front face.
- BackgroundEven light gray seamless background typical of studio photography.
1 region
x 0.00 · y 0.00 · w 1.00 · h 1.00 (high) - Shadow and lightingSoft diffuse lighting from the front-left producing a faint soft shadow under and to the right of the bag base.
1 region
x 0.22 · y 0.78 · w 0.72 · h 0.20 (medium) - Shot compositionCropped close-up focusing on the left side panel and portion of the front face, top of handles partially shown and top-left corner of the bag near the image top edge.
Colors
natural raffia beige· body#DBB37D- Overall shapeTall rectangular tote with a flat rectangular base and a pronounced side gusset, producing a boxy silhouette when viewed from the side.
- 03
Product
Close-up of a natural-colour woven raffia tote showing openwork crochet body, a woven strap/edge, a brown rectangular leather label, and black embroidered letters on the inner base.
- Openwork crochet bodyFlat openwork knitted/crocheted raffia panel with repeating diamond/loop holes forming the tote's outer wall.
1 region
x 0.03 · y 0.02 · w 0.92 · h 0.42 (high) - Woven interior baseTighter, denser woven raffia panel visible inside the bag forming the inner base, with a flat braided texture.
1 region
x 0.18 · y 0.45 · w 0.76 · h 0.50 (high) - Handle / top edgeRolled or thick woven raffia strap and reinforced upper edge formed from tighter braided raffia, folded into the shot.
1 region
x 0.02 · y 0.40 · w 0.54 · h 0.38 (high) - Leather labelSmall rectangular brown leather patch stitched onto the outer openwork panel.
1 region
x 0.33 · y 0.14 · w 0.20 · h 0.11 (high) - Embossed label text“VANESSA BRUNO”
1 region
x 0.33 · y 0.14 · w 0.20 · h 0.11 (high) - Embroidered inner text“VANESSA”
1 region
x 0.45 · y 0.64 · w 0.44 · h 0.26 (high)
Other
Studio close-up crop on a neutral light-gray background with soft even lighting, minimal shadows, and the bag filling the frame at an angle.
- Shot compositionTight detail crop angled slightly, showing the bag's rim, label, and interior; background is plain and out of focus.
- BackgroundUniform light gray backdrop occupying negative space around the tote.
1 region
x 0.00 · y 0.00 · w 0.30 · h 0.20 (high) - Lighting and shadowSoft, even diffuse lighting with subtle shadows beneath the woven rim and inside the bag.
Colors
natural raffia beige· openwork outer panel and woven interior#E5C394medium brown leather· leather labelblack· embroidered lettering- Openwork crochet bodyFlat openwork knitted/crocheted raffia panel with repeating diamond/loop holes forming the tote's outer wall.
Brand PDP Lookup
- Brand
- Vanessa Bruno
Raffia L Cabas Tote Made in Madagascar Natural , Vanessa Bruno