Okay, so, I’ve been eyeing this Prada Galleria Saffiano Leather Bag for a while. I mean, it’s a classic, right? But the price tag always made me hesitate. Then I thought, why not try to remake it myself? I mean, I’m pretty crafty. I’m doing a project with one of my friends to try and make some new bags. So I figure, let’s see how it goes, right?
First, I did some digging online. I watched a ton of videos of people talking about their Prada bags. I had heard that they aren’t really a good investment and don’t hold their value over time. But, they are supposed to be well made, right? I had a friend who used a nylon Prada tote for work and it looked brand new after eight years! But this Galleria bag, it’s all about that Saffiano leather.
Turns out, Saffiano isn’t your typical full-grain leather. It’s real leather, but it’s treated and embossed, so it doesn’t get that worn-in, vintage look over time. They said that full-grain leather can be treated in two ways. I found out that the thickness of the leather depends on what they’re using it for and what animal it comes from. So I guess that means finding the right leather was going to be key.
I started hunting for materials. I needed to get my hands on some good quality Saffiano-style leather. I hit up some local leather stores. I found some leather that felt pretty close to the real deal, even though getting the exact same leather was going to be tough. I spent days checking out the leather stores. I also picked up some sturdy lining fabric and some good quality hardware, like zippers and buckles, that had that same kind of feel as the original. The Galleria has some specific hardware and I wanted to match that up.
Next, I dove into making the pattern. I found some pictures and measurements of the Small Prada Galleria online, and I used those to draft my own pattern. It was a bit tricky getting all the proportions right, especially since the Galleria has those cool triangular side panels. It took a few tries, but I finally got a pattern I was happy with, which took a couple of weeks to really get right.
Then came the cutting and sewing. I carefully cut out all the leather pieces according to my pattern. Sewing the Saffiano-style leather was a bit of a challenge, it’s pretty stiff! But I took my time, used a heavy-duty needle on my sewing machine, and managed to stitch everything together. The lining was way easier to sew than the leather. I had a little bit of trouble sewing the corners, but I took it slow and it turned out okay. I had to sew some of the parts by hand, especially where there were several layers of leather.
The final step was attaching the hardware. I carefully marked where the buckles, zippers, and the little Prada logo should go. This part was actually kind of fun, it really started to look like a real bag! I spent hours making sure everything was secure and in the right place, just like it should be.
- Researched: Learned about Saffiano leather and the Galleria bag.
- Sourced materials: Found Saffiano-style leather, lining, and hardware.
- Created a pattern: Drafted a pattern based on the Small Galleria’s design.
- Cut and sewed: Cut out the leather and lining, then sewed it all together.
- Attached hardware: Added the finishing touches with buckles, zippers, and a logo.
Here’s a quick rundown of what I did:
And guess what? I actually did it! I made my own version of the Prada Galleria bag. It’s not perfect, but it’s definitely got that same classic vibe. It’s a pretty good size, too. I think I could fit a small tablet or a book in there, which is great. I think the larger size would be great for work if you needed to fit a laptop in it. Plus, I learned a ton about working with leather and bag construction. I’m so glad I gave this a try, and it was pretty fun. I can’t wait to try it out and maybe make some more. It was a fun project, and I’m pretty proud of how it turned out!
Click to consult