Summer’s must-bag baskets

’Tis the season of the seriously pricey basket – see it as summer’s It-bag. And, though you may feel more basket case than basket queen for shelling out more than three figures for one, they are, we insist, a versatile investment. They can be beach and cabin bags, city holdalls, baby carriers by summer and interiors gems by winter (perfect for storing magazines or scarves). Irish designer Rae Feather (above) knows her baskets – her monogrammed versions (bottom right) are hot property. ‘It was singer and actress Jane Birkin [namesake of the famous Hermès bag] who taught us that baskets are not just for the beach,’ says Rae. ‘And they are fun now – we paint them, add pompoms, tassels and more,’ she says of her multi-embellished designs, of which she owns many. ‘All of our early samples were monogrammed with my own initials to see how they would look. So I own a lot of them!’ Not that it’s all about pompoms and personalisation – many quality baskets are fairtrade, handmade by women from the world’s poorest communities, helping to provide them with a reliable wage. ‘A number of women we work with in Bangladesh used to be sex workers, but have been trained and supported by non-profit organisations,’ says Rae. Another reason to add them to the wish list. OUR TOP FIVE BASKETS: 1 £330, Muzungu Sisters, matchesfashion.com. 2 £180, Aranáz, beachflamingo.com. 3 £145, Giselle, selfridges.com. 4 £175, Nannacay, avenue32.com. 5 £195, Rae Feather, raefeather.com

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