POP Marquetry
Category: Accessories
Competitions: Fashion Competition 2026
This project explores how an overlooked natural material can be reimagined as a contemporary fashion object through the craft of straw marquetry. In a design landscape increasingly shaped by synthetic materials and short product lifecycles, it seeks to rediscover the inherent beauty, tactile richness and longevity of rye straw, demonstrating its potential as a material worthy of contemporary design. Dating back to the 17th century, straw marquetry has traditionally been used to decorate furniture and architectural interiors, where its intricate craftsmanship and luminous surface enriched permanent, often monumental spaces. This project reinterprets that heritage through the design of a contemporary handbag inspired by the Rococo era. By translating a technique once rooted in heavy, immovable interiors into a lightweight object carried through everyday life, the work reveals new structural, tactile and functional possibilities for both the material and the craft. The rye straw is protected with a transparent cellulose acetate coating that improves water resistance while preserving its natural iridescence and distinctive reflective qualities. Rather than masking the material, this minimal intervention extends its durability, allowing the natural character of the straw to remain visible while supporting the longevity expected of a functional accessory. Beneath this contemporary application lies a quieter intention: to ensure that straw marquetry continues to evolve rather than becoming a historical curiosity. The survival of traditional craftsmanship depends not only on preservation, but on its ability to find relevance within new contexts. By placing this centuries-old technique into contemporary fashion, the project opens new possibilities for its transmission to future generations while demonstrating that inherited knowledge can continue to shape innovative design. Ultimately, this project proposes an alternative way of thinking about fashion accessories. Rather than relying on resource-intensive synthetic surfaces, it embraces a renewable natural material whose individuality cannot be replicated industrially. Every straw carries subtle variations in colour, texture and reflection, making the material itself an active contributor to the design. By combining natural materials, heritage craftsmanship and contemporary functionality, the project advocates for objects that are not only durable and desirable, but also invite a lasting relationship between people, materials and the stories they carry.
