IBELIV
Mosaic Braided Raffia Straw Pocket
This rectangular raffia straw pocket from French label IBELIV features a braided mosaic pattern in black, beige, rust, and pale blue, with a zippered main compartment and a braided wrist strap. It measures 12.25 inches high by 15.75 inches wide by 0.5 inch deep, and is made from cotton and braided raffia straw. Customer feedback notes the bag's lasting quality and durability, making it suitable for everyday summer use.
- Material
- Cotton and braided raffia straw
- Gender
- unisex
- Style
- boho
- Category
- Luggage & Bags
Color
Size
Specifications
Braided raffia straw tote with cotton lining, zippered compartment, and lanyard handle.
Main zippered compartment with lanyard handle
- Material
- Cotton and braided raffia straw
- Style
- boho
- Occasion
- vacation
- Gender
- unisex
- Age Group
- adult
- Condition
- new
- Dimensions
- 15.75x12.25x0.5 in
- Category
- Luggage & Bags
Additional Attributes
- French IBELIV label
- Cotton lining
Product Insights
The Mosaic Braided Raffia Straw Pocket by IBELIV is a handcrafted bag made from natural Madagascan raffia with air-dried fibers and natural resin, lined with organic cotton, and designed in France. Its slim braided weave maintains a 1 cm depth even when loaded, fitting A4 documents flat and serving as an organizer inside larger bags. The bag lasts years with care, with a six-year owner reporting it still looks new, though heavy rain can soften fibers and fade colors while light rain is safe with proper air-drying. Priced at $350 CAD, it offers 4.6 times the surface area of similarly-priced Manebí Isla, providing an entry into IBELIV's craft.
Verified claims
- Durability
- Braided raffia with air-dried fibers and natural resin lasts years; a 6-year owner reports it still looks new.
- Water resilience
- Light rain is safe; heavy rain can soften fibers and fade colors.
- Capacity
- 31x40 cm interior fits A4 documents flat, and the slim profile slips into larger bags as an organizer.
- Origin
- French-designed bag handcrafted in Madagascar.
- Craftsmanship
- Hand-braided from air-dried raffia with natural resin, lined with thick cotton.
- Longevity
- Buyers report the bag lasts for years with care, outlasting typical raffia accessories.
- Suppleness
- Extended air-drying locks in softness, preventing brittleness.
- Slim profile
- Flat braided weave maintains 1 cm depth even when loaded.
- Value
- At $199.95 CAD, 4.6 times the surface area of similarly-priced Manebí Isla and an entry to IBELIV's craft.
- Rain tolerance
- Tolerates light rain without damage; avoid heavy prolonged rain.
- Drying care
- Air-dry after wetting to maintain fiber flexibility.
- Water resistance
- Natural resin in raffia repels light rain.
- Material
- Natural Madagascan raffia, same as luxury brands, with organic cotton lining.
Product record
- Title
- Mosaic Braided Raffia Straw Pocket
- Brand
- IBELIV
- Price
- 350 CAD
- Availability
- In stock
Deep Research
What fits in a flat 0.5-inch raffia pocket
- Equipped with only a lanyard handle and no shoulder strap, this pocket is designed to be carried as a clutch or slipped into a larger bag, and its 40 cm width makes it ideal for travel paperwork, a tablet, or a magazine rolled tight — a slim organizer that thrives as a vacation accessory rather than a daily tote.
- The interior measures 31 cm high by 40 cm wide, which swallows a standard A4 sheet (21 x 29.7 cm) with room to spare, so you can carry unfolded documents, boarding passes, or a full-size portfolio without bending them — a rarity in bags that are only 1 cm deep.
- Raffia is a naturally supple fiber that allows the pocket to gently stretch around items slightly thicker than the rated 1 cm depth, so a passport, phone in a slim case, or compact wallet slides in without straining the seams or distorting the shape.
How the price compares to similar raffia pockets
- The Manebí Natural Raffia Isla Pocket, also handcrafted in Madagascar, measures just 15×18×1 cm at $165 USD — the IBELIV Mosaic at 31×40 cm provides a surface area nearly 4.6 times larger, and at $199.95 CAD (≈$140 USD) it beats the Manebí on both size and price during sale, making it a superior value for anyone needing more than a card-and-phone carry.
- IRO's Pocket Rafia bag, a slouchy half-moon style in 100% raffia with leather details, retails at $315 USD — the IBELIV Mosaic, even at full price ($350 CAD ≈$245 USD), undercuts IRO's standard retail while offering a zippered main compartment, a cotton-raffia blend, and a lanyard handle, making it a more utilitarian and competitively priced alternative within the sub-luxury raffia segment.
- IBELIV's own braided raffia tote commands $650 CAD for a full-sized shopper with cowhide leather details — the Mosaic pocket, at $199.95 CAD (sale), delivers the same braided raffia handwriting and French label in a slim, zippered format that functions as both a standalone clutch and a travel insert, offering a lower-priced entry point to the brand without sacrificing material story.
- A typical mass-market raffia beach bag like PrettyLittleThing's sells for $33.50 USD (sale) and is made entirely of raffia with faux-leather trim — the IBELIV Mosaic commands a higher price by incorporating cotton for softness, a French-designed label, and a tailored flat silhouette that transitions from beach to city, positioning it as an enduring accessory rather than a seasonal throwaway.
- Loewe's natural raffia drawstring pocket bag retails for $1,226 CAD on Lyst — the IBELIV Mosaic, at $199.95 CAD sale, offers a flat, zippered raffia pouch made from the same natural raffia (blended with cotton) at roughly one-sixth the price, with larger dimensions (31×40 cm) that far exceed the Loewe's compact silhouette, making it a pragmatic choice for those who value genuine raffia without the luxury markup.
- Nim The Label's leather-trimmed raffia pocket, handwoven in Madagascar, is priced at $199 USD ($139 USD sale) for a 12×20×5 cm crossbody — the IBELIV Mosaic offers a wider flatter format at a similar price (currently $199.95 CAD / ≈$140 USD), appealing to shoppers who want a larger-surface raffia pouch that can slide into a tote rather than a small structured crossbody.
How braided raffia holds up over time
- IBELIV's production cycle includes an intentionally long air-drying phase for the raffia fibers before weaving, locking in a softness that persists through years of use — a direct defense against the brittle feel that uncured raffia develops after just a few months in dry or sunny conditions.
- The naturally occurring resin in Madagascan raffia fibers gives this bag a supple, almost self-healing flexibility — it bends without snapping under the crush of a suitcase, and when unpacked, the braided panels recover their shape rather than retaining creases, a property that synthetic or reconstituted raffia cannot offer.
Braided raffia construction and quality feel
- Because the braided body is formed from many individual raffia strands woven together, stress from a sharp-cornered item like a tablet or notebook is spread across the entire panel rather than concentrated on a single fiber, reducing the chance of a puncture or tear developing into a hole—a tangible durability edge over single-layer woven raffia fabrics.
- Where many of IBELIV's handbags—including the RARY rectangular tote—use crocheted raffia for a softer, more organic texture, the Mosaic pocket opts for a braided technique, yielding a denser, flatter surface that holds a clean silhouette better and resists the sagging that can afflict unstructured crocheted raffia after prolonged use.
Image Analysis
3 images- 01
Product
Front-facing rectangular woven clutch showing a grid of small braided straw square motifs on a dark woven background, with a short braided wrist strap and a top zipper closure with a small metal pull at the right.
- Overall shapeRectangular, flat clutch shown face-on with straight top edge and slightly rounded lower corners.
1 region
x 0.06 · y 0.36 · w 0.88 · h 0.56 (high) - Surface patternUniform grid of small square braided motifs arranged in rows and columns, each square bordered by the dark woven background to create a mosaic effect.
1 region
x 0.08 · y 0.40 · w 0.84 · h 0.48 (high) - Motif constructionEach square motif is concentric: a small colored center, surrounded by a rust-toned ring, then a natural beige braided ring, all defined by dark/black braided outlines.
1 region
x 0.20 · y 0.48 · w 0.60 · h 0.36 (high) - Wrist strapShort braided wrist strap emerging from the top center area and laying across the top of the clutch toward the right.
1 region
x 0.48 · y 0.28 · w 0.28 · h 0.08 (high) - Top closureTop zipper closure visible along the top edge with a small metallic zipper pull at the top-right corner.
1 region
x 0.86 · y 0.33 · w 0.08 · h 0.06 (medium) - Material textureTight braided raffia or straw texture visible across motifs and background; overall matte, slightly coarse surface.
1 region
x 0.12 · y 0.42 · w 0.76 · h 0.44 (high)
Other
Product photographed centered on a plain light gray background with soft shadowing beneath; image is a front-facing studio shot.
- Background and stagingEven light gray background with no visible props or packaging; product centered horizontally and positioned in the lower half of the frame.
- ShadowingSoft shadow below the clutch indicating diffuse top lighting.
1 region
x 0.12 · y 0.84 · w 0.76 · h 0.08 (medium) - Image qualitySharp focus on product details and texture with neutral, well-balanced lighting.
Colors
black· background weave / grid outlines#0E0D0Cnatural beige· square outer rings and main braided squaresrust red· square inner rings / accentspale blue· square centerswarm gold· zipper pull- Overall shapeRectangular, flat clutch shown face-on with straight top edge and slightly rounded lower corners.
- 02
Product
Flat rectangular woven pouch with a repeating mosaic of small square motifs in a black grid, a braided black wrist strap attached at the top, and a visible metal zipper slider at the top edge.
- Overall shapeFlat rectangular pouch shown at a slight angle so the front face and near-side edge are visible; bottom-right corner cropped out of frame.
1 region
x 0.18 · y 0.06 · w 0.76 · h 0.88 (high) - Surface patternGrid of small square mosaic motifs arranged in rows and columns; each square contains concentric stitched rings of colored raffia centered on a small blue center.
1 region
x 0.30 · y 0.12 · w 0.62 · h 0.80 (high) - Grid/grounding colorSquares separated and outlined by thick black braided/stitched material forming the visible grid lines and border around each motif.
1 region
x 0.28 · y 0.10 · w 0.64 · h 0.82 (high) - Motif colorsEach square shows natural tan outer rings, rust/burnt orange intermediate rings, and a small dusty light blue center.
1 region
x 0.34 · y 0.16 · w 0.44 · h 0.60 (high) - Top closure detailShort section of zipper tape visible at the top edge with a small gold-colored metal zipper slider partially visible near the left top corner of the pouch face.
1 region
x 0.18 · y 0.06 · w 0.18 · h 0.10 (high) - Wrist strapLong braided black strap attached at the top-left; strap is rounded and appears glossy relative to the woven body; attachment area wrapped with the same black braided material.
1 region
x 0.02 · y 0.12 · w 0.28 · h 0.64 (high) - Material textureCoarse woven straw or raffia texture visible in each colored ring with individual fiber strands and irregular stitch loops evident.
1 region
x 0.34 · y 0.20 · w 0.50 · h 0.66 (high)
Other
Studio-style image with a light gray seamless background, soft shadow beneath the pouch, and even diffuse lighting; image is slightly cropped at the pouch bottom-right.
- Background and shadowNeutral light gray background with a soft shadow below and to the right of the pouch
1 region
x 0.00 · y 0.80 · w 1.00 · h 0.20 (high) - Shot compositionProduct centered to the right of the image with the wrist strap extending into the left third; bottom-right of the pouch is cropped by the frame
- LightingDiffuse, even studio lighting with mild specular highlights on the braided strap and minimal harsh shadows
Colors
deep black· grid and border#0E0D0Cnatural tan· outer motif ringsrust orange· middle motif ringsdusty light blue· motif centersmetallic gold· zipper slidergloss black· wrist strap#151313- Overall shapeFlat rectangular pouch shown at a slight angle so the front face and near-side edge are visible; bottom-right corner cropped out of frame.
- 03
Product
Close-up of a woven raffia exterior showing a grid of square mosaic motifs with a black fabric interior, a sewn rectangular leather label embossed with 'IBELIV', and a metal-toothed zipper at the top edge.
- Woven mosaic squaresExterior surface composed of tightly braided raffia arranged in square mosaic motifs in a grid; each square has concentric stitched rings of color and is separated by raised black braided borders.
1 region
x 0.05 · y 0.42 · w 0.90 · h 0.55 (high) - Interior liningInterior visible at the top is a smooth black fabric lining with a slightly visible horizontal weave texture.
1 region
x 0.00 · y 0.00 · w 1.00 · h 0.30 (high) - Zipper teethExposed metal zipper teeth run along the top edge with a brass or antique gold finish.
1 region
x 0.00 · y 0.00 · w 1.00 · h 0.08 (high) - Sewn rectangular labelA rectangular leather patch is sewn onto the interior lining; the patch is stitched around the perimeter and embossed with raised text and a curved line beneath it.
1 region
x 0.38 · y 0.15 · w 0.24 · h 0.12 (high) - Label text“IBELIV”
1 region
x 0.42 · y 0.17 · w 0.17 · h 0.08 (high) - Raised braided bordersBlack braided strands form raised grid lines between each mosaic square, creating distinct square outlines.
1 region
x 0.05 · y 0.42 · w 0.90 · h 0.55 (high)
Other
Studio close-up photograph taken from above at an oblique angle showing interior and exterior details; neutral light gray background and soft even lighting produce minimal shadows.
- Shot compositionTight detail shot framed to show the top interior zipper and label plus the adjacent exterior woven squares; image is cropped with parts of the woven grid extending beyond the frame edges.
- Background and lightingProduct rests against a flat light gray background with soft, even studio lighting that minimizes harsh reflections.
Colors
deep black· interior lining, leather label and braided borders#120D0Dwarm beige· outer square background rings#E4C394olive green· concentric ring#4D4A4Arust red· concentric ringpale sky blue· center dotantique brass· zipper teeth- Woven mosaic squaresExterior surface composed of tightly braided raffia arranged in square mosaic motifs in a grid; each square has concentric stitched rings of color and is separated by raised black braided borders.
Documents & Data
Q&A
2 answered- How water-resistant is the raffia straw, and can this bag be used in light rain?
- According to IBELIV, raffia naturally tolerates light rain — a few drops won't affect quality or durability [4]. However, prolonged exposure to heavy rain can soften the fibers, alter the shape, or fade colors [4][5]. For light rain, it's fine; avoid downpours or let it air-dry if it gets wet.
- Where is this product manufactured?
- IBELIV products are handcrafted in Madagascar. Their website states that items are 'handcrafted in our workshop in Madagascar' [2][3], and the brand is a French label with production in Madagascar.
Reddit Insights
1 threads · r/SezaneA Redditor shares a positive long-term experience with an IBELIV raffia tote, praising its durability and quality after six years of use.
The user expresses satisfaction with the IBELIV bag, noting it looks like new after years of use and is high quality.
Themes
Use Cases
- Summer daily bag
Source Threads
Long-term user review of IBELIV raffia tote
I have a raffia tote that I bought 6 years ago for the brand IBeliv ( it’s a French brand too and they have handmade in France raffia hats and bags ) I think at the time I paid 150€ for the bag . It’s lined inside with thick cotton , I don’t have a Sezane raffia bag , I did consider getting one but never got it is . Again a high quality raffia bag can last years if you take good care of it.
u/Substantial-Plan-645r/SezaneView thread →