It is no surprise that a country with such a rich culture would pick up on and admire the strong folkloristic references in the Dolce&Gabbana SS13 Sicilian Folk fashion show collection. In the March Edition of Elle Japon, Dolce&Gabbana appears prominently as does the raffia and Sicilian Cart prints.

For a country whose traditional fabric is silk, it’s a beautiful contrast that they may have been seduced by the pauper origins of the raffia looks that Dolce&Gabbana showed on the runway. The raffia full skirt presented in the inspirational shoot is almost like a rice sack beautifully fashioned into a stylish statement. The weaved raffia bra-let with the amphora shape skirt has something decidedly ancient Greek about it.

The colourful romance of the Sicilian horse drawn cart rang a bell in Japan as well. The Sicilian cart wheel print tunic top that match the skirt, the intricately weaved raffia dolce bag on the accessories edit and well, the incredible hand painted Sicilian cart inspired belt and wedge heel sandals make for a very Mediterranean statement that will ring through the pacific this summer.

Credits: Elle Japon

Right:

Photographer: Takaki Kumada

Stylist: Satoko Takebuchi

Model: Dani Seitz

Left:

Photographer: Osamu Yokonami 

Stylist: Shino Suganuma