Rainy July : Rafina-ted caps
Martha has always been passionate about design, especially the heritage of Greek craftsmanship. She always wanted to share that passion and it was sitting on a beach on the island of Kythera that gave her the idea for Rainy July.
“My grandmother, Erifili was one of the most stylish women she has ever known – half- Italian, half-Greek, she would visit the hairdresser at least twice a week so he could tease and style her tumbling blonde curls. Her favorite memories of her involve a day at Rafina beach, when she would stash her beautiful hair safely inside a chic swimming cap, slip on her mustard yellow bathing suit and lounge there, dipping in the sea occasionally whenever she finished a magazine.”
“I wanted to channel her Dolce Vita era glamour in a product for Rainy July, and nothing summed up her elegance more succinctly than those swimming caps. Few women would use them to protect their hair now, of course, so she repurposed the object into a practical, modern piece – a purse. These quirky pouches are made from classic old swimming caps from a factory in Peloponnese. They are hand-sewn into bags, trimmed with real leather and close with a zipper.”
Floral Bathing Cap Clutch Bag
Bathing Cap Clutch Bag
Rainy July is a small brand that specializes in hand made summer accessories. The brand’s mission is to create contemporary summer accessories inspired by original Greek design objects, using local craftsmanship. All Rainy July products are handmade and locally produced with carefully selected and sustainable materials.
Rainy July‘s founder, Martha Giannakopoulou, is a practicing architect based in Athens and London. A graduate from the Architectural Association in London, Martha is the the co-founder of if-untitled architects design studio created in 2003, has received a series of awards, and has completed various design projects some of which in London, Athens, New York and Zambia.
