Okay, so, I saw this Prada Galleria Saffiano Leather Bag, the large one, online. I’ve been wanting it for a while now, and it’s not cheap. I saved up some money, but I thought maybe I could try to remake it myself. That way I can save a lot more.
First, I gotta get some leather. Not just any leather, but this “Saffiano” stuff. I did a little digging, apparently, it’s genuine leather that’s been treated and embossed. I started calling up some leather suppliers, asking around, you know, where can I get some good Saffiano leather that looks like what Prada uses.
- Visited some local leather stores.
- Called a few leather suppliers I found online.
- Asked around in some online forums about Saffiano leather.
Finally, I found this gorgeous piece of blue full-grain Saffiano calf leather that looked like the real deal, or at least, good enough for me. It was even thick and sturdy, which is what I need for a bag. I ordered a good amount, just in case I mess up somewhere along the way.
Next, I needed a pattern. I looked online for bag patterns, studied how the Prada Galleria bag was constructed, and started sketching out my own pattern. This took a while, I had to get the dimensions right, figure out all the different pieces, the pockets, the lining, everything.
Cutting and Sewing
Once the leather arrived, I carefully laid out my pattern and started cutting. This was nerve-wracking, I didn’t want to waste any of that beautiful leather. After cutting, I had all these pieces of blue Saffiano leather, ready to be assembled.
Sewing was a whole other beast. I dusted off my old sewing machine, watched a bunch of tutorials online on how to sew leather, and started practicing. It took some time to get the hang of it, the leather was thick, and I had to use special needles and thread. I did some practice pieces first.
Then came the real deal, sewing the actual bag. I started with the body, then the pockets, the handles, and finally the lining. It was a slow process, I had to be super careful, making sure everything lined up perfectly. And that cross-hatch design? Had to emboss it myself. Took forever, but it looked pretty sharp.
Finishing Touches
After many, many hours, I finally had something that resembled a bag. I added the zipper, the hardware, and the little Prada logo I managed to snag from an old broken purse. I even got that long strap, so I could sling it over my shoulder.
It wasn’t perfect, there were a few wonky stitches here and there, but I was proud of it. I made a Prada Galleria Saffiano Leather Bag, well, my version of it. The whole thing cost me a fraction of what the real one would have. And I can finally say that I have my own bag.
Would I do it again? Maybe. It was a lot of work. But it was also a fun project, and I learned a lot. Plus, now I have a pretty sweet bag that looks almost like the real thing.
So, if you’re thinking about getting a Prada Galleria Saffiano Leather Bag, maybe consider making one yourself. Just be prepared for a lot of work and some serious crafting.
But hey, who knows, maybe it will turn out to be your most beloved bag yet!
Click to consult