So, I’ve been messing around with this whole RemakePRADA thing, specifically the Prada Galleria Saffiano Leather Mini-Bag, right?
First off, I had to get my head around what I was even dealing with. I mean, I see these bags everywhere, especially all over the Prada’s online store, but I never really looked at them, you know?
- This one’s called the Galleria, and it’s “mini,” which basically means it’s kinda small.
- It’s made of this Saffiano leather, which isn’t your everyday kind of leather. They do something to it, press it, make it all textured. It looks tough, feel tough.
I started by just staring at a bunch of pictures online. I noticed that crosshatch pattern on the leather – that’s the Saffiano part. And, of course, the little Prada logo, front and center.
Next, I tried to figure out how to even get close to that Saffiano look. I messed with some regular leather scraps I had lying around. I tried scoring it, pressing it, everything I could think of to get that texture. It wasn’t perfect, but it was something.
Then came the shape. I sketched out a rough pattern based on the pictures, trying to get the proportions right. It’s a pretty boxy little thing, with a couple of zippered compartments and those rolled handles.
Cutting the leather was a whole other story. I had to be super careful, especially with the textured pieces. One slip and you’ve ruined a whole section, so I take a lot time on this part.
The sewing part was the most time-consuming. I don’t have one of those fancy industrial machines, so I did it all by hand. Took forever, but I kinda liked the slow, careful work of it. I put a lot of love into it.
For the hardware, I scavenged some old zippers and metal bits from other bags. I even managed to find a little metal triangle that looked kinda like the Prada logo. Close enough, I figured.
The handles were tricky. I ended up using some cording wrapped in leather strips to get that rounded shape. Not exactly how they do it, but it worked.
Finally, after many days and a few mistakes, I had something that resembled the Prada Galleria Mini-Bag. It’s not perfect, it’s not a Prada, but it’s mine. And I learned a ton about leatherwork, about patience, about the whole process of making something from scratch. That’s what I want to share with you guys. It is not a tutorial, it’s just a little journey.
This whole thing started because I was just curious. I saw these bags everywhere, and I thought, “Could I make that?” Turns out, I kinda could. And maybe you can too, or maybe not, but it’s fun to try these things out, right?
I did this, and I feel pretty darn proud of my little creation. And hey, maybe it’ll inspire someone else to try making something they’ve always admired. Or at least, maybe it’ll make you look at those fancy bags a little differently next time you see them. You’ll see all the work, all the little details that go into them. And then think of me, hah!
This is it. Hope you guys like my little sharing.
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