In partnership with Helen Kaminski

Helen Kaminski has always designed with our freedom in mind; with its hats, it's the liberty to live under the southern sun, and fashionably so; with its bags, arrives the ability to surrender ourselves from weighted pockets (or none at all) and opt for something that's at once stylish and durable. For its 40th anniversary, Helen Kaminski is exploring a new terrain, with the brand’s iconic sustainably harvested raffia presented in new form, with its first ever footwear line.

Just as it all began in 1983 with raffia hats to protect Helen’s children from the sun, the material creates the foundation for an iconic year-round collection. An elevated assortment in both design and quality, the offering comprises of five classic styles – the Mari, the Rigian, the Tira, the Rigi, and the Donna – each style sharing two distinct motifs; the raffia seed which is debossed into the insole of each shoe and has become the brand’s signature code, and a handwoven heritage 8mm overlap raffia braid which manifests as straps and criss-crossed uppers across each silhouette.

When you consider it, raffia in itself is emblematic of Helen Kaminski's core design values, in the same way raffia's naturally occurring resin protects the fibre from the elements and aids in its resilience. Each piece crafted is unique and made with special care by artisans using traditional techniques. The brands commitment to sourcing the finest raw materials from across the globe means that their designs are handcrafted to last.

From the outset, it's clear that Helen Kaminski has designed its new collection of footwear to transcend the seasons and be treasured forever. And when it comes to fashion, isn't that the greatest freedom?

Explore the first ever footwear collection from Helen Kaminski at the designer's website.