Okay, so I saw this PRADA Small Prada Galleria Saffiano Special Edition Bag the other day, and I just had to get my hands on it. My granddaughter, she’s been saving up for months to get one of these, and I thought, “Why not try to make one myself?” So, I started looking around, trying to figure out how to even begin.
I went online, of course. They have all kinds of these Prada bags – Mini Bags, Bucket Bags, Handbags, Totes, big ones, small ones, you name it. I focused on the small Galleria Saffiano leather handbag because that’s the one my granddaughter wants. I looked at the new collection of Prada Galleria bags and saw they added some with studs and some made of soft leather. They say these things hold up really well, so I knew I needed to find some good quality leather.
I found some shops online that sell Saffiano leather, and I ordered a few different types to see which one looked and felt the most like the real deal. I also bought some studs because I wanted to try making one of the special edition bags. While I waited for the leather to arrive, I started working on the pattern. I found some pictures of the bag online and used those to sketch out the different pieces I would need to cut.
When the leather arrived, I got to work. I carefully cut out each piece of the pattern, making sure to double-check my measurements. Then, I started sewing. This was the tricky part, getting all the pieces to fit together perfectly. But I’ve been sewing for years, so I figured it out. After sewing the main body of the bag, I added the lining and the hardware. For the special edition bag, I carefully attached the studs, making sure they were evenly spaced.
- Ordered Saffiano leather samples online.
- Sketched out the pattern based on online pictures.
- Cut out the leather pieces.
- Sewed the bag together.
- Added lining, hardware, and studs.
It took me a few days, working on and off, but finally, I had my very own homemade Prada Galleria bag! It’s not perfect, of course, but it looks pretty darn good, if I do say so myself. I even made a second one with the soft leather. I’m thinking of selling these, maybe through shipping or even at-home pickup. I’m so excited to show my granddaughter what I made! It will be a wonderful gift.
The Results
The bag is beautiful! It has that timeless shape, and the pared-back, timeless lines are simple and pure. I’m really proud of how it turned out. I think I’ll keep practicing and maybe even try making some of the other styles. This whole experience has been so much fun, and I’ve learned a lot. Plus, I saved a ton of money by making it myself instead of buying the real thing!
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