Okay, so, I’ve been wanting to try my hand at making a bag for a while now, and I figured, why not go big? I decided to remake the PRADA Medium Prada Galleria Saffiano Leather Bag, just like the ones you see in the official flagship store. Sounds crazy, right? But I was determined to see if I could pull it off.
First, I spent hours just staring at pictures of the bag online. I needed to get every little detail in my head. The official Prada website was a good start, but I also dug through tons of other sites, looking at it from different angles and reading descriptions. There are various types, like shoulder bags, mini bags, handle bags, and messenger bags, but I focused on recreating the classic Galleria style.
Gathering Supplies
Next, I had to get my hands on the materials. Now, I wasn’t about to use real Saffiano leather, that stuff is expensive! But I found a pretty decent faux leather that had a similar texture and look. I also needed some sturdy lining fabric, metal hardware like the logo and zippers, and some strong thread. Let me tell you, finding the right hardware was a pain. I ended up ordering a bunch of different pieces online before I found ones that looked close enough to the real deal.
Cutting and Sewing
Then came the scary part: actually cutting and sewing the leather. I made a rough pattern based on the dimensions and shape I had gathered from the pictures. I’m not going to lie, I messed up a few times and had to recut some pieces. Good thing I bought extra material! Sewing the pieces together was also tricky. My little sewing machine was definitely not made for this kind of heavy-duty work, but I managed to get through it, with a few broken needles along the way.
- First, sew the main body panels together.
- Then, attach the bottom panel, which was surprisingly difficult to keep straight.
- Next, I worked on the handles, which took forever to get the right shape and sturdiness.
- The lining was sewn separately and then attached to the inside of the bag.
- Finally, add the zipper and the metal details, and add the shoulder strap.
The Final Touches
The last step was attaching the hardware. The PRADA logo was the most important part, and thankfully, the one I ordered looked pretty darn good. I also added some metal feet to the bottom of the bag and a detachable shoulder strap, just like the original.
When I finally finished, I was exhausted but also super proud. It wasn’t perfect, but it definitely looked like a Galleria bag! I even showed it to my friend who owns a real one, and she was impressed. She said it was a pretty good replica, especially considering I made it myself. All in all, it was a fun, but I’m not sure I’d do it again. Maybe a smaller bag next time.