Okay, so, I wanted to try and make one of those fancy Prada bags – the Galleria Saffiano, to be exact. I’ve seen a lot of folks carrying them around, and they always look so classy with that little triangle logo. I thought, “Why not give it a shot?” It’s a project I have been thinking about for a while, and I finally got started the other day.
First things first, I had to figure out what this Saffiano leather is all about. Turns out, it’s this genuine leather that’s been treated and stamped with a special pattern. It’s not like that full-grain stuff I’ve messed with before. I did some digging and found out that the thickness of the leather matters a lot depending on what you’re making. For this bag, I figured I needed something sturdy but not too thick.
So, I got my hands on some Saffiano leather. It’s not cheap. I started cutting the pieces according to the measurements I found online. I tried to find an original one, they are going for like $4,000 or something crazy like that. eBay had some used ones for less, maybe around $800, but still, that’s a lot. Then there’s this site called The RealReal, they sell used luxury stuff, and they had some Prada bags too, but I just needed the dimensions. I went for the medium size.
I cut out all the parts: the front, the back, the sides, and those little triangles for the logo. The real challenge was sewing it all together. I used my old sewing machine, the one my grandma gave me. It took some time, and I had to redo a couple of seams, but I managed. I also made the handles and that long strap that goes across your body. I found this enamel triangle logo online, it looks just like the real one, and I attached it to the front. I also added those two top handles and an adjustable handle wrap. It’s got an open top and two zip-fastening compartments inside, which was a bit tricky to get right, but I think I nailed it.
After a few evenings of work, it finally started to look like a real Galleria bag. The Saffiano leather gives it that special textured look. It’s not perfect, of course, but I’m pretty proud of it. I even took it out for a spin the other day, and I swear, I felt a bit fancier walking around with it. I mean it felt good walking around with something I made with my own two hands.
Here’s how it turned out:
- Material: Saffiano leather (It’s got that nice texture)
- Color: I went with classic black.
- Size: Medium. It fits all my stuff.
- Logo: That little enamel triangle.
- Handles: Two on top, plus a long, detachable strap.
- Inside: Two zip pockets.
So yeah, that’s my Prada Galleria Saffiano bag story. It was a fun project, and I learned a lot. Maybe I’ll try making another one someday, or maybe I’ll just stick to buying them. Who knows? But for now, I’ve got this pretty cool bag that I made myself, and that’s something, right?
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