Okay, here is my sharing about remaking the PRADA Prada Galleria Saffiano Leather Mini-Bag from the official flagship store:
So, I saw this PRADA Prada Galleria Saffiano Leather Mini-Bag on their official website, and I thought, “I gotta have it!” But the price tag? Ouch! It got me thinking, “Why not try to make one myself?” I mean, how hard could it be, right?
First things first, I went online and started looking for materials. I needed some good quality Saffiano leather. Found a decent supplier after a few days of digging. The color, I decided to stick with the classic black. It’s always chic. Then, the hardware. I managed to find some similar buckles and zippers online, not the exact same ones, but hey, close enough. I also got some strong thread, the kind they use for heavy-duty stitching.
Next, I got down to making the pattern. I studied the pictures on the PRADA website closely, especially the inside details of this bag. Took measurements, drew a rough sketch, and then made a more detailed pattern on some cardboard. This part took the longest, to be honest. Getting the dimensions and proportions right was a bit of a headache. I wanted it to look as close to the original as possible, but some adjustments were not easy.
Once the pattern was ready, I carefully cut the leather. This was nerve-wracking! One wrong cut and I’d be in trouble. I took my time, double-checked everything, and finally got all the pieces cut out. Also, I bought some lining materials, you know, that fabric stuff they put inside bags. Cutting it out was quite easy compared to the leather.
Then came the sewing. I used my old sewing machine, the one my grandma gave me. It’s not fancy, but it gets the job done. I started with the smaller pieces, the pockets and stuff. Then, I slowly assembled the main body of the bag. Stitching Saffiano leather is tough, I’ll tell you that. My fingers were sore after a while!
- Sewing the main parts together.
- Attaching the lining.
- Adding the zippers and buckles.
The most challenging part was definitely attaching the handles. Getting them to sit right and look symmetrical took a few tries. I had to unpick the stitches a couple of times, which was frustrating, but I eventually got there. And attaching that little PRADA logo thingy, I found a similar one, not the real deal, but it looks pretty convincing.
Finally, after many hours and a few minor injuries (needle pricks are no joke!), I finished my very own “PRADA” bag. It’s not perfect, and I’m sure a professional could spot the differences from a mile away, but I’m pretty proud of it! It’s a pretty good fake, if I do say so myself. The feeling is really different compared with buying a real one.
My “PRADA” Bag Is Done
I even took it out for a spin the other day, and you know what? No one could tell the difference. I felt pretty snazzy carrying it around. It was a fun project, and I learned a lot about bag making. Would I do it again? Maybe. But next time, I might try a simpler design!
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