Okay, so, I’ve been eyeing this Prada Galleria Saffiano Leather Bag for a while now. You know, the small one. It’s just so classy and seems like it would never go out of style. Plus, I heard that Prada bags can actually hold their value, or even become more valuable over time. So, I finally decided to remake one myself.
Finding the Right Materials
First things first, I needed to find the right leather. From what I gathered online, the Galleria bag is usually made with this special “Saffiano” leather. It’s like, real leather, but it’s been treated and stamped with this cross-hatch pattern. Apparently, it’s scratch-proof and water-resistant, which is a huge plus.
I found a great place that sells a Saffiano leather for 2080 CNY. I ordered the black leather, and they also had a variety of thicknesses. I went for a medium thickness since the original bag seemed pretty sturdy, and the shipping cost is 580CNY. I also ordered the lining fabric and some hardware, like the zipper and the little feet for the bottom of the bag.
The Pattern
Next up, I had to figure out the pattern. I looked at a ton of pictures of the Galleria bag online and even found a few videos of people taking it apart (don’t judge, it’s for research!). I also saw some comments online saying that the bag has a slit that’s meant for keys, which you attach to a keyring inside. That’s pretty cool, right? After studying all that, I started drafting my own pattern. It was a bit tricky, especially getting the dimensions right. There is a post says “What fits in a Galleria tote?” So I make sure my remake one can fit my MacBook Pro.
Sewing It All Together
Once I had all my materials and my pattern, it was time to start sewing. I’m not gonna lie, this was the most challenging part. That Saffiano leather is pretty thick, and getting all those straight lines and perfect corners was a real test of my patience. I started with the main body of the bag, then did the side panels and the bottom. I also had to attach the handles, which took some figuring out. They’re supposed to be rolled and stitched a certain way.
The Lining
The inside of the bag is just as important as the outside. I know that the real Prada bags have this logo plaque on the inside. It’s ceramic on the leather bags and sometimes leather on the non-leather ones. I wasn’t able to find a ceramic one, but I did find a nice leather one that looked pretty close. I sewed that onto the lining fabric and then attached the lining to the inside of the bag.
Finishing Touches
After all the main pieces were sewn together, I added the zipper and the little metal feet to the bottom. I also added that keyring thing inside for the keys. I even managed to find a little Prada logo tag and sewed that onto the front of the bag. It’s not exactly like the real one, but it’s a pretty good replica.
The Result
All in all, I’m pretty happy with how it turned out. It’s definitely not perfect, but it looks and feels like a high-quality bag. And you know what? It was a lot of fun to make. Plus, I saved a ton of money compared to buying the real thing. I saw online that the price for a real Prada black leather shopping bag was like ₹5,88,000, and I only spent a fraction of that. And since I was so obsessed with the re-edition Prada line, I feel so nostalgic. So, if you’re thinking about getting a Prada Galleria bag but don’t want to spend a fortune, maybe consider making your own. Just be prepared for a challenge!
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