Okay, so, let me tell you about this little project I just finished. I’ve been wanting to remake a Prada Galleria Saffiano Leather Mini-Bag, and I finally did it. It’s not perfect, but, hey, I’m pretty proud of myself.
First, I gathered all my materials. I already had some Saffiano leather lying around from a previous project. It is genuine leather that has been treated and embossed, so it does not develop a patina over time. It’s not full-grain leather, which can be either chrome-tanned or vegetable-tanned. And the thickness of leather varies depending on its intended use and the animal hide used. Then I found this amazing pattern online, and it looked pretty close to the original. I also needed some hardware, like the little metal feet and the clasps. Finding those in the right size and finish was a bit of a pain, but I eventually tracked them down at a local craft store. They only had silver, but I wanted gold.
Next, I started cutting out the leather. This bag has, like, 83 separate pieces! Can you believe it? 83! It took forever. My hands were cramping, and I was seeing spots by the time I was done.
After that came the fun part – assembling it all. I used this heavy-duty sewing machine that I borrowed from my neighbor. It was a beast, but it handled the thick leather like a champ. Stitching everything together was tricky, especially those tiny corners. I had to redo a few seams because they were crooked, but I eventually got the hang of it.
- Cut out 83 separate pieces of Saffiano leather.
- Sew pieces together using a heavy-duty sewing machine.
- Attach hardware like the metal feet and clasps.
The final step was adding the hardware. I used this special glue to attach the metal feet to the bottom of the bag. Then, I carefully attached the clasps to the top. It was a bit fiddly, but I managed to get them on straight.
The Result
And voila! My very own, handmade Prada Galleria Saffiano Leather Mini-Bag. It’s not a perfect replica, of course. The stitching isn’t quite as neat as the original, and the leather is a slightly different shade. But, you know what? I made it with my own two hands, and that’s pretty darn cool. Plus, now I have a cute new bag to carry around. Maybe next time I’ll try a different color. Or maybe I’ll just take a break from sewing for a while. My fingers need a rest!
Click to consult