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rafeny · 3 months
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Can I Tell You ... about my collaboration with Mestiza New York.
We all know that feeling you have when you meet someone and you just know you’re going to get along. That’s exactly how I felt when I met Alessandra years ago. We have a shared heritage and it’s something we are very proud of. We just get each other.
"I am so thrilled for the opportunity to collaborate with Rafe Totenco, whom I’ve long admired since my early days in New York, when I dreamed of becoming a fashion designer. I first got to meet him back in 2016 at a Christmas party thrown by a mutual friend, and he doesn’t know this but I felt like I was meeting a huge celebrity! Ever since starting Mestiza I always knew I wanted to partner with him in some way, especially since we are both so closely tied to our Filipino heritage and always reference it in our collections. This collaboration has truly been a full circle moment for me, because getting the opportunity to partner with a fellow Filipino designer who paved the way is such an honor." - Alessandra Perez-Rubio
I admire how their clothing continuously reference Alessandra’s Filipino heritage akin to what I do when I design my handbags. Alessandra had approached me last year about doing a collaboration and it was an immediate yes for me. From start to finish, collaborating with them was so harmonious and stress-free. I’m thrilled that the clutches compliment their clothes perfectly.
“This was a match made in heaven, a tropical heaven.” - Rafe Totengco
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rafeny · 4 months
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Can I Tell You...about my Spring / Summer 2024 Collection featured on Vogue Philippines.
Rafé Totengco’s Latest Collection Has The Sentiments Of A Sweet Escape
written by Chelsea Sarabia for Vogue Philippines
For his Spring/Summer 2024 collection, bag designer Rafé Totengco presents glistening miniaudières swept over North Fork shores, celebrating femininity, vibrance, sunlight, and the season.
For a summer away from New York City, it might seem like there’s no better destination than the Hamptons. If it were up to Rafé Totengco, however, he’d tell you that being there would feel as if you hadn’t even left Manhattan. “I mean, it really is a fabulous location,” he says, but “I’m just not there.” On the weekends, the Rafé New York designer would rather be on the peninsula opposite the Hamptons, up in the North Fork. “I swear to you, your trip will feel so different if you just go away for two days. Just come out,” he urges, reenacting the convincing he had to do to get a few of his friends to come and visit. “Just come and see it for what it is, and you’ll see. You’ll come back.”
With the locale’s sprawling vineyards, lush gardens, and secluded beaches at every turn, it seems that taking the road less traveled would have you reap the most rewards. “You could kind of call it a bucolic scene or state of mind. I mean, every time I go there for the weekend, as soon as I cross this threshold, immediately, [my] stress level goes like whoosh.”
Totengco spends every weekend in the North Fork; it’s become something of a necessity for the designer. “Having lived in the city for so long, you need that escape. For me, it’s like, I need that balance,” he tells Vogue Philippines.“I mean, I used to love being in the city every weekend. But now that I’m able to go away, I look for it. I need it.” 
He knew it would inspire his next collection as the vases in his home seemed to overflow with the fan shells he would collect on each of his visits. In such an idyllic setting, it was hard not to find beauty everywhere you went, says the designer. “I take my mom and my husband from Thursday night on. It really is our happy place. I kind of wanted to be able to share that happiness—of the location, of the moment, of the feeling.”
Totengco is the kind of designer who never stops designing, finding inspiration in just about anything. The collection is largely informed by the details you might ignore in passing: the North Fork’s pebbly beaches, fresh flowers from the local farmer’s market, the frequent bachelorette parties hosted in the vineyards. “You see these girls all dressed up, but [because] it’s so windy and it’s so natural,” he shares. “They’re all dressed, but it’s not, like, super fancy. There’s a casualness to it all.” 
He approaches his clutches the same way; each piece in the collection is meticulous in its beadwork and craftsmanship, but still conveys something of a sense of ease through its design. “There’s a sequined clutch that I did—[there’s] no way that can be done by machine. When you see it, you see that each sequin is individually stitched into place,” he explains. “And yet, when you look at it [from afar], it’s not a very complicated bag. It’s a frame clutch, done. But it exudes so much femininity and color and vibrance… It catches the light. It reflects sunlight. [This bag] is a way to celebrate light and the season.” 
That same effortlessness is evident in Totengco’s campaign images, starring model Hannah Locsin and photographed by Martin Romero. That shoot day, it would be the three of them in the designer’s car, driving around until they stumbled upon a scenic patch of land fitting for the collection—something not at all difficult to find in the area. “The whole day was just so relaxed,” Totengco recalls. “We shot a lot in one day, but it didn’t seem like it. It felt like we weren’t even rushing. Somehow, there was just this ease into the company.” 
More than the actual work, Totengco remembers going with Locsin and Romero to buy greens from the farmer’s market and sharing a salad under a comfortable midday sun. The day lacked the frenetic pace that creatives in fashion are so used to, but it didn’t make a difference in the designer’s desired results. “I was so happy when I saw the pictures because they’re exactly what I wanted,” he says. “Her hair’s blown in the wind, and she’s just there in the sun… I don’t know, [they’re] exactly how that day felt.”
In thinking of this collection, Totengco had meditated on his moments of peace spent in nature, wishing the same for the Rafé New York woman “whether it’s just for the weekend, for the evening, [or] even if you’re stuck at home.” Everyone needs solace between all the noise. “I think, more than ever, everyone’s looking for an escape,” he says. “We’re all dreaming of getting away. So even if you can’t go somewhere like the North Fork, I think, just visually, we want to be transported.”
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rafeny · 8 months
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Can I Tell You...about my Fall / Winter 2023 Collection.
Rafé New York Takes Us To A Dazzling Reimagining Of Studio 54
By Chelsea Sarabia for Vogue Philippines
Rafe Totengco on his Fall / Winter 2023 Campaign and the sweet homecoming of Filipino creatives that went on behind the scenes.
In setting out to design any collection, Rafe Totengco prefers to work off a feeling.
With his brand Rafé New York, the designer has carved out a niche in the clutches and evening bags sect of fashion. He attributes its global acclaim to one sentiment: anyone can carry a Rafé bag. Over an illustrious two-decade-long career, he notes a sizeable shift in the landscape that mirrors this attitude, with trends that transcend any one type of person—so long as it fits their tastes.
“With social media, we’ve become a very small world. Everyone sees everything instantaneously, and they also see what other people are wearing,” he says. “Ultimately, that’s also what I love about handbags: it’s a very democratic piece of fashion. You can be young, you can be old. It’s not size-specific, it’s not age-specific.” 
For his Fall/Winter 2023 collection, Totengco doesn’t design with a particular muse in mind but a mood; he paints a picture of a radiant hour in a bar in Bushwick, tapping into the sparkling glamour and the freeing sense of style of eras past. 
The designer expands, “I’m hoping that with one of these bags from the next season, [wearers] get a sense of confidence, independence, and strength, and a kind of boldness [that says] ‘I want to stand out from the crowd. I don’t want to be like everybody else. I’m going to walk in and turn heads. Yes, I’m going to own the space.’”
Inspired by Studio 54 and Helmut Newton’s photographs of the Yves Saint Laurent Le Smoking suit, Totengco wanted to shoot in a location that captured the vibrancy of New York City at night. It seemed nearly impossible to find within the city’s cluster of crowded streets and the time demanded of shooting a full-blown campaign; that was, until his team found the perfect spot: a Brooklyn bar with the makings of what could have been a stylish speakeasy from the 1920s. 
“The bar provided us with so many vignettes that I was super happy with because it kind of gave you the feeling that ‘She’s inside…somewhere,’” he muses. “You don’t necessarily see her friends, but it doesn’t matter. It’s almost like she’s there [just arriving]. There’s this anticipation of, like, ‘Something fun is about to happen.’ And you can just imagine the rest.” 
Styled in Marcel waves and ‘70s-reminiscent jumpsuits, Rafé’s femme fatale lounges over black leather booths, carrying an array of evening bags in malleable rhinestone mesh and sequins that spill over her fingertips.
“We have [them in] magenta, gold, and silver—you know, classic rhinestone colors, [and they’re] all individually done by hand in India,” he says of the collection. “They’re fun evening bags, party bags. When you see them, they evoke that sense of frivolity and ‘Ooh, look at this sparkly thing!’ I always believe a little sparkle never hurt anybody.”
For his campaign, Totengco worked with New York City-based Filipino creatives whom he shares he met through serendipitous encounters. In New York City, it seems, most Filipinos are distanced by only “two degrees of separation.”
He met photographer Selwyn Tungol after he had taken a picture of one of his bags during a Fashion Week years ago and the multi-disciplinary creative Lorenz Namalata at the recent opening of the Silverlens Galleries in Manhattan. Following what the designer calls a “trail of connectivity,” he finds that the bar Namalata scouted for him was Filipino co-owned, too. 
“It was just funny. We had a whole crew of other people who were assisting who all came from Manila, all based here now, and it just became this thing. All of a sudden, we were talking in Tagalog in Sleepwalk, a bar in Bushwick, and we were like, oh my God, wait, where are we? What are we doing?” he laughs. “It’s also, in a way, representative of New York now. It really is a melting pot, and I love that—that a new generation of creatives is coming up.”
For Totengco, a predominantly Filipino crew was a refreshing departure from where he first started in the industry. He says, “It was kind of this moment of solidarity where it was like, ‘Well, I didn’t have this before.’ Without even realizing it, it’s happening, and, really, it’s a nice feeling. You feel at home. You feel like you’re a part of something.”
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rafeny · 9 months
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Can I Tell You...Gold is a neutral.
Can I tell you…gold bags are a great choice for summer as they can easily complement a wide range of colors. Whether your’e wearing bright, white or neutrals, a gold bag adds a touch of elegance and sophistication without being overpowering. The Fernanda frame clutch in handwoven gold leather can elevate a simple outfit and give it that extra oomph.
Gold is a neutral but neutral doesn't necessarily mean boring. Consider the Annick crossbody in handwoven gold leather. You can easily wear this bag from day to night and it allows you to be hands free.
Whether you're attending a wedding, a formal event, a date night, or just going out with friends, the Annick is versatile for a range of occasions.
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rafeny · 11 months
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Can I Tell You...about Berna Romulo Puyat.
Although we’ve never met in person, Berna Romulo Puyat and I have come to know each other thanks to Instagram. We started direct messaging each other a few years ago when she posted a picture wearing one of my clutches given to her by a common friend. Berna has been a long time advocate for wearing Filipino design. In her role as the Philippines Secretary of Tourism she traveled everywhere in the country and through her I saw so many beautiful destinations I have since added to my bucket list. More recently, she has been appointed the Deputy Governor of Central Bank of the Philippines.
I wanted to name a clutch after her that best embodied her spirit, style and love for the Philippines. The Berna clutch is a classic half dome silhouette crafted and molded from natural raffia. It has a variety of hand-embroidered floral motifs and other components that are all hand made in the Philippines. Each clutch has a drop-in chain shoulder strap allowing you to wear it as a crossbody bag. It’s the perfect clutch to wear if you’re going somewhere fun and festive this summer.
Read our Q & A :
1.    What is your idea of happiness?
Spending quality time with my loved ones.
2.    What is your greatest extravagance?
Traveling.
3.    What is your current state of mind?
Peaceful and content.
4.    Whose style do you most admire?
Grace Kelly! Her style was simple and classic, but never exaggerated. Grace would exude elegance, even when wearing button down shirts, capri pants, full skirts, cardigan, and ballet shoes. I also love the way she accentuated her outfits through simple accessories, such as pearls or a nice bag.
I can still visualize myself wearing her clothes because her style and fashion sense are timeless.
5.    What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Raising my children as a single parent since my husband passed away in 2010.
6.    What is your most treasured possession?
My wedding and engagement ring because, without Dave, I wouldn’t have had my children.
7.    Who is your favorite writer?
Kevin Kwan! I only watch movies or read books that have a happy ending so no surprise there. 
I couldn’t stop laughing when I first read his book Crazy Rich Asians! I find his work so funny and relatable. It also didn’t come as a surprise to me when he included Filipino characters in his book, Rich People Problems.
I was fortunate enough to have met him last year and can confirm that he is as intriguing as the books he writes. 
8.    Which living person do you most admire?
If I narrowed it down to two choices, I would choose my mom and dad. I am fortunate enough that my parents are still with us. My mom, Lovely Tecson Romulo, is now 83 years old and my dad, Alberto Romulo, is turning 90 this August.
Mom always inspires me to be strong and to strike the balance between being a mother and a public servant. Dad always reminds me to uphold honor and integrity in public service to preserve the trust the public places in its public servants.   
9.    Where is your dream destination?
I am blessed to have visited the various UNESCO World Heritage Sites in our country such as the Rice terraces (Cordilleras), Vigan City (Ilocos Sur) Puerto Princesa Underground River (Palawan), Baroque Churches located in Intramuros, Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte and Iloilo City and Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park (Palawan). So my dream is to visit other sites in other parts of the world.
The top on my list are Angkor Wat (Cambodia), Machu Picchu (Peru), Old Havana (Cuba), Works of Antoni Gaudi (Spain), Chitchen Itza (Mexico), and Serengeti National Park (Tanzania).
I also want to revisit Cappadococia, Turkey to ride the hot air balloons! Nine years ago, my daughter and I woke up as early as 4 am on two separate days to ride the hot air balloon. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to because of the weather. 
10. What is your motto?
“Happiness is a choice.  Nothing will make you happy until you choose to be happy. You can choose to focus on the good or the bad. I choose to be happy.”
If you love the Berna clutch and want to see the range of colors and motifs it comes in. Tap on the box below.
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rafeny · 1 year
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Can I Tell You...about Clair Concepcion-Barberis.
Can I Tell You…I have known Clair Concepcion-Barberis since the late 80s when I started my fashion brand in Manila. She and her best friends were rebellious teenagers who dared to defy the rules of their strict Catholic school to model for me. We had so much fun going against the status quo in those days. We kept in touch after I moved to New York and whenever I was in Manila, I would always make time to see her and the gang for a proper catch-up.
About twenty years ago, Clair and her husband purchased an island in Palawan as a private family retreat. Slowly over time they built a few more cottages to accommodate more people and eventually due to popular demand opened it up as a boutique resort called Bamboo Private Islands, available to rent for the entire family or a group of friends. The next time I’m back in the Philippines, it’s definitely going to be on top of the list of places to go for a long weekend.
But Clair isn’t one to sit still. She had been dabbling in creative projects over the years and finally decided to launch a design workshop called Artifeks. The goal is to partner creative individuals with artisans who can realize their designs using local materials. Case in point, if you want a chic umbrella similar to the one Clair is holding in the photo, they can make it for you.
On a recent trip to New York, Clair had expressed her desire for a bag that she could wear with everything and wear anywhere, a bag that could dress up even her most casual looks. The #ClairSlingCrossbody I designed with her in mind is crafted from handwoven leather in a super neutral color I call stucco. It’s a grab and go kind of bag that compliments Clair’s easy breezy style.
And judging from these photos, it looks like she loves the bag. It’s so her!
Read our Q & A below :
1.    What is your idea of happiness? That moment or time of deep, real connection. 2.    What is your greatest extravagance? Travel is priceless. 3.    What is your current state of mind? Thunderous! 4.    Whose style do you most admire? Carmen Dell'Orefice and Isabella Rossellini. 5.    What do you consider your greatest achievement? I wouldn't go so far as calling it my greatest achievement (yet!) but certainly an achievement. Starting Artifeks, a design and manufacturing business at an age when one typically slows down.  6.    What is your most treasured possession? Printed photographs of family and friends. 7.    Who is your favorite writer? Too many! 8.    Which living person do you most admire? I admire a few people, many of them are friends. Each one possesses a particular quality I am inspired by which I try to consciously apply in my life. 
9.    Where is your dream destination? Bhutan and Machu Picchu. 10. What is your motto? Amor Fati.
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rafeny · 1 year
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Can I Tell You...Mom would Love This!
Can I tell you… I don’t know any mother who doesn’t love flowers. And if your Mom is like mine, she would love the Berna clutch. I have childhood memories of her going to her garden everyday; checking on her flowers and communing with them. I could see how much they made her happy, especially when they were in bloom. To this day whenever she sees flowers in bloom she cannot resist taking a photo.
The Berna clutch is crafted from natural raffia and embellished with a variety of hand-embroidered floral motifs. Each clutch is fully lined and includes a drop-in gold chain strap so you can wear the clutch on your shoulder.
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rafeny · 1 year
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#canitellyou white here, white now. The #fernandaclutch in handwoven white leather comes with a drop in shoulder strap so it can be worn as a crossbody. It’s the perfect day-to-evening bag. / 🤍🤍🤍 . . . #daytoeveningbag #whiteclutch #wearwhiteagain #clutchobsessed #rafeclutch #handwovenleatherclutchbag #handwovenbyartisansofindia #barcelonaphotoshoot #springsummer2023collection #shotinbarcelona #eixamplebarcelona #rafenewyork www.rafe.com . . . #fashionphotographer @c.pareja #hariandmakeupartist @valentinamakeupart (at Eixample Barcelona) https://www.instagram.com/p/CqaWKk_ue0K/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=
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rafeny · 1 year
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#canitellyou neutral doesn’t have to be boring. This vignette by @colinking with lamps by @roarkmodern is just perfection. I love the eclectic mix of artwork and furniture with a restrained color palette. 📷: @a_gaut / 🖤🤍🤎 . . . #eclecticmixhomedecor #colinkinginteriors #roarkmodern #interiordesigninspiration #restrainedcolorpalette #neutraldoesnthavetobeboring #misenscene #illtakethemall www.rafe.com (at New York, New York) https://www.instagram.com/p/CqXxCm_uTeH/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=
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rafeny · 1 year
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#canitellyou spring is definitely in the air. What a joy it is to see the daffodils blooming and the sun shining. Makes me so happy. Have a great week everyone. / 🤗🌼☀️ . . . #springisdefinitelyintheair #pier62 #hudsonriverpark #daffodilseason #daffodilsinbloom #springinnewyork #rafetotengco #newyorker #westchelseanyc (at Pier 62 Chelsea Piers) https://www.instagram.com/p/CqSxD4BOFUi/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=
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rafeny · 1 year
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#canitellyou despite the forecast, live like it’s Spring with a bouquet of poppies, ranunculus and hellebores in a gorgeous glazed pot by Frances Palmer. 📷 : @francespalmer / 🌼🌸🪴 . . . #despitetheforecastlivelikeitsspring #poppies #ranunculus #hellebores #francespalmerpottery ##springbouquet #ashglazedceramics #kintsugipottery #woodfiredpottery #springblooms #springhassprung🌸 www.rafe.com https://www.instagram.com/p/CqNnqleussS/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=
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rafeny · 1 year
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#canitellyou spring has sprung! Grab a hold of the #bernaclutch hand-embroidered with colorful or neutral blooms. Which would you pick for this season? / 😉💐🌾 . . . #springhassprungflorals #clutchobsessed #handembroideredclutch #handembroideredwithlove #rafeclutch #springhassprung🌸 #floralembroideredclutch #floralembroidery #prettyclutchbag #rafenewyork www.rafe.com (at Barcelona, Spain) https://www.instagram.com/p/CqL-OtqpbEB/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=
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rafeny · 1 year
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#canitellyou talk about eye candy. A meander in the East Village would not be complete without a visit to @johnderian @johnderiancompany who has 3 stores right beside each other. I usually have to do several laps because there’s so much visual stimulation to absorb. And if you’re looking for a great gift, you can’t go wrong with one of his decoupage paper weights. 📷: @nachotambunting / 🤩🔮🎁 . . . #johnderiancompany #eastvillageshop #greatgiftideas🎁 #decoupage #favegiftstore #eastvillagenyc #rafetotengco #newyorkcitylife www.rafe.com (at John Derian Company) https://www.instagram.com/p/CqK6t6qOA5Y/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=
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rafeny · 1 year
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#canitellyou are you faux real? Paris bistros are blooming and drawing crowds in for an aperitif, a selfie or both. I’m guilty of both. But can you blame me? Which is your favorite? / 😉🍹🌸 . . . #areyoufauxreal #parisisblooming #springtimeinparis #lafavoritesaintpaul #cafedefloreparis #rafetotengco #rafetravelstoparis #parismonamour❤️ #parisisalwaysagoodidea🇫🇷 www.rafe.com (at Paris, France) https://www.instagram.com/p/CqIfdBVOI6T/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=
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rafeny · 1 year
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#canitellyou feeling hot, hot, hot. The #joannaclutch in hot pink adds a punch of color to any color this season. I love it worn with other shades of pink. / 💗💗💗 . . . #hotpinkisaneutral #hotpinkishot #fuchsiaclutch #hotpinkclutch #clutchobsessed #rafeclutch #pinkisthenavyblueofindia #shockingpinkclutch #statementclutch #rafenewyork www.rafe.com (at Riad Kniza Marrakech) https://www.instagram.com/p/CqG8HGEJ__T/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=
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rafeny · 1 year
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#canitellyou I’m always drawn to artwork that depicts Paris in a new way. This one by @abstractsunday is certainly an eye-catching and non-typical impression of the Eiffel Tower. J’adore! / 😍💙❤️ . . . #abstractsunday #cristophniemannart #toureiffel🗼 #parisartwork #jadoreparis🇫🇷 #parismonamour❤️ #parisisalwaysagoodidea🇫🇷 #parisimpressionism www.rafe.com (at Tour Eiffel) https://www.instagram.com/p/CqF1_MiuTkK/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=
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rafeny · 1 year
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#caniteyou inspired by the colors of Moroccan tiles, my #rocioflapclutch is a color block combination of turquoise and emerald. The adjustable chain strap allows you to wear it as a crossbody or a shoulder bag. Just in time for Spring. / 😉💙💚 . . . #clutchobsessed #flapclutch #flapclutchshoulderbag #colorblockedbag #turquoiseandemeraldaremyfavouritecolours #blueandgreencombo💙💚 #moroccanmodel #riadknizamarrakech #marrakechphotoshoot #rafenewyork www.rafe.com (at Riad Kniza Marrakech) https://www.instagram.com/p/CqBsojIJ54p/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=
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