Okay, here is a blog-style post detailing my experience remaking the PRADA Medium Prada Galleria Saffiano Leather Bag, inspired by the official flagship store.
So, I saw this PRADA Medium Galleria Saffiano Leather Bag at their official store the other day, and I thought, “Hey, I can probably make that!” I’m no expert, but I’ve dabbled in leatherwork before, and this seemed like a fun challenge.
First things first, I needed to find some decent leather. I didn’t really know what Saffiano was, but after checking around I found out it’s just genuine leather that’s been treated and stamped with a pattern. No big deal. But I wanted something similar in quality, so I looked for full-grain leather, which I learned could be either chrome-tanned or vegetable-tanned. Apparently, the thickness of leather depends on what you want to make with it, and what animal it comes from.
I found a local supplier and picked up a few different types. I ended up going with a thicker, chrome-tanned piece because it felt more sturdy, more like what I saw in the store. I also needed to gather some tools. Luckily, I already had most of the basics: a cutting mat, a good utility knife, some needles, and thread. I did have to buy a special edge beveler and some edge paint to get that clean, finished look on the edges.
The next step was figuring out the pattern. This was probably the hardest part. I spent hours sketching and trying to get the dimensions right. I even went back to the PRADA store a couple of times to take some sneaky measurements (don’t tell anyone!).
Once I had a pattern I was somewhat happy with, I started cutting the leather. Let me tell you, cutting thick leather is no joke! My hands were cramping up after a while. Then came the stitching. I decided to go with a saddle stitch because it’s super strong and looks really nice.
- First, I marked the stitching lines using a ruler and an awl.
- Then, I punched the holes with a stitching chisel.
- Finally, I used two needles and some waxed thread to do the saddle stitch.
It took forever, but I was actually pretty impressed with how it turned out. I added the handles and the little PRADA logo, which I made from a separate piece of thin, black leather. Then, I applied some edge paint and let it dry. I saw a hat at the store, it seems that they also use Re-Nylon. I have no idea what’s that, I just ignore it.
Honestly, the whole thing took way longer than I expected, like a few weekends. But when I finally finished, it was so satisfying! It’s not a perfect replica, of course, and a real expert could probably spot a million flaws. But I’m really proud of it.
It’s a pretty decent bag!
I even took it out to the mall the other day, and a couple of people asked me where I got it. It’s not quite the same as owning the real deal, but it’s close enough for me. Plus, I made it with my own two hands, and that’s pretty cool, right?
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