Okay, so, I got this idea to try and remake the PRADA Medium Prada Galleria Saffiano Leather Bag. I’ve seen these bags around, and they look super classy, but they’re way out of my budget. So I thought, why not try to make one myself? I’m no expert, but I do enjoy a good DIY project. I have made bags before, but they weren’t leather.
Getting Started
First things first, I needed to find some Saffiano leather. It’s that textured leather that Prada uses, and it’s pretty distinctive. I went online and looked around, found a few places that sell leather scraps. I ordered some in black because that’s the classic color. While I was waiting for the leather, I studied the pictures of the bag online. I sketched out some rough measurements and tried to figure out how all the pieces would fit together.
The Tough Part
When the leather arrived, I was so excited! It was beautiful! I laid it out and started cutting. I used a ruler and an X-Acto knife, trying to be as precise as possible. The cutting was actually pretty tough. This leather is thick and durable, which is great for a bag, but hard on the hands! Anyway, I managed to cut out all the pieces, following my rough sketch. I also bought a zipper and some metal hardware online. I realized that I needed something for the interior of the bag, so I found some nice fabric that matched the leather color for the lining.
Sewing Adventures
Next up was sewing. I don’t have an industrial sewing machine, just my regular home one. Let me tell you, sewing through that thick leather was a challenge! I broke a few needles, and my machine was making some weird noises, but I kept going. I sewed the main body of the bag first, then added the lining. That was tricky because I had to sew it inside out. I left a small hole so I could turn it right side out after. It was a pain, but I managed.
- Sew the front and back pieces to the bottom piece.
- Sew the side pieces to the main body.
- Sew the lining pieces together, leaving a small hole.
- Attach the lining to the main bag, wrong sides together.
- Turn the bag right side out through the hole in the lining.
The Details
After the main body was done, I added the handles. I had cut long strips of leather for this, and I sewed them into loops. Attaching them to the bag was another challenge. I had to punch holes in the bag and the handles and use rivets to secure them. I’d never used rivets before, so that was a learning curve. I messed up a few times, but eventually, I got it right. Finally, I added the zipper and the metal hardware. The zipper was easier than I expected, thankfully. I also managed to find a little Prada logo online and attached that to the front to make it look a little more legit.
The Final Result
It took me a few days, working on and off, but I finally finished it! It’s not perfect, of course. There are some wonky stitches, and the leather is a bit scuffed in places, but overall, I’m pretty proud of it. It looks somewhat like the real Prada Galleria bag, and it’s definitely functional. I’ve been using it for a few weeks now, and it’s holding up pretty well. I even got a few compliments on it! I’m thinking about doing a white one and a pink one in the future as well. It’s a bit rough around the edges, but it’s my own handmade bag, and that’s pretty cool.
This project was a lot harder than I expected, but it was also really rewarding. I learned a lot about working with leather and sewing, and I ended up with a pretty nice bag out of it. If you’re thinking about trying something like this, I’d say go for it! Just be prepared for a challenge and don’t expect perfection.
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