Okay, so, I’ve been eyeing the Prada Galleria Saffiano Leather Bag for ages. It’s, like, the ultimate dream bag, right? But the price tag? Ouch. So I thought, why not try to make my own version? I mean, how hard could it be? (Spoiler alert: harder than I thought, but still totally worth it!)
First things first, I needed to find the right leather. This was a mission in itself. I went to so many stores, felt a million different types of leather. It had to be Saffiano, obviously, because that’s what makes the Galleria so iconic. It is said that it’s shaped with a strong, and I love that.
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, just like the Prada one. Score!
Then came the actual making of the bag. Now, I’m no professional, but I’ve dabbled in some DIY projects before. But let me tell you, constructing a bag from scratch is a whole different level. I watched a ton of online videos, read some blog posts, and just kind of winged it, to be honest.
- Cutting the leather: This was nerve-wracking! I made a pattern based on the dimensions of the large Galleria bag I found online. Praying I measured right, I started cutting into that beautiful, expensive leather.
- Sewing: Oh boy, the sewing. I have a basic sewing machine, and it was definitely put to the test. There were so many layers of leather to go through, especially with the reinforcement parts. Some seams I did at least three times because they didn’t look great. The thick and sturdy leather was a big challenge to my sewing machine.
- Hardware: I bought some gold-toned hardware online – a zipper, some buckles, and little feet for the bottom of the bag. Attaching these was tricky, especially the zipper. I almost gave up on the zipper, not gonna lie.
- Lining: I chose a simple black fabric for the inside. It is not Saffiano, for sure. This was probably the easiest part, to be honest. It’s good enough for me.
It took me weeks, working on and off, to finish the bag. There were moments of frustration, definitely, but also moments of pure joy when a seam came together perfectly or when I attached a piece of hardware just right. Finally it is done. I made it!
The end result? It’s not a perfect replica, of course. There are imperfections, and it’s definitely not Prada quality. I saw some scuffs on corners and hardware on the real Prada bag in the store, and that made me feel a little bit better, to be honest. But, it’s MY version of the Galleria, and I’m so proud of it! It’s a large tote bag, in blue Saffiano leather, and it holds everything I need. Plus, I made it with my own two hands! It is in stock now!
Would I do it again? Maybe, maybe not. It was a lot of work! But I learned so much, and I have a one-of-a-kind bag that I’ll cherish forever. If you’re thinking about doing something like this, I’d say go for it! Just be prepared to put in the time and effort. And maybe invest in a heavy-duty sewing machine, haha!
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