So, I saw this Prada Galleria Saffiano Leather Bag at the official store the other day, and I just had to remake it. They call it “small,” but it’s got enough room for my stuff. I started this whole project because, well, I like making things, and that bag looked like a fun challenge.
First off, I went to the store and checked out the real deal. Took a bunch of pictures, made some sketches. This bag is made of Saffiano leather, which is pretty tough stuff. It’s genuine leather that’s been treated and embossed, so it doesn’t change much over time, unlike full-grain leather. The real Prada one has this rectangular plaque inside that says “Prada Milano” and sometimes “Made in Italy,” but I heard some are made in China now. Anyway, back to my project.
I got myself some Saffiano leather. Getting the right material was a bit of a hassle, but I found a decent supplier. Once I had the leather, I started cutting. Measured twice, cut once—that’s what they say, right? I followed the sketches I made, trying to get the sizes and shapes as close to the original as possible.
The Assembly
- Stitching: This took forever. Hand-stitching is no joke, but I wanted it to look good. I used a saddle stitch, which is super strong.
- Hardware: Finding the right buckles and zippers was tricky. I wanted them to look like the Prada ones, but not exactly the same, you know? Ended up getting some custom-made.
- Lining: The inside needed a lining, so I used some soft fabric I had lying around. Sewed that in, making sure it was neat and tidy.
After all the pieces were stitched together, it actually started to look like a bag! I added the handles and the shoulder strap, which was a whole other process. Getting the length right, making sure they were comfortable and sturdy—it was a lot of work.
The final touch was the plaque. I didn’t want to copy Prada exactly, so I made my own version. It says “Remade by Me” with a little design I came up with. It’s not the “Prada Milano,” but it’s my own little mark.
This whole thing took me weeks, but it was worth it. The bag looks pretty good if I do say so myself. It’s not perfect, but it’s mine. I learned a lot, messed up a few times, but hey, that’s how you learn, right? I saw someone call this a “Remake PRADA Small Prada Galleria Saffiano Special Edition Bag”, and I guess mine is a special edition in its own way since I made it.
Would I do it again? Maybe. It was fun, but man, it was a lot of work. For now, I’m just happy to use my new bag and show it off a bit. This ain’t a project for everyone, but if you like a good challenge, give it a shot!
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