Okay, so today I decided to remake the Prada Galleria Saffiano Leather Mini-Bag. Let me tell you, it was quite the journey!
First, I gathered all my materials. I chose to use Saffiano leather because, you know, it’s a Prada signature. I found a nice piece online, but man, the price of quality leather these days… Anyway, I also needed some basic tools like a cutter, needles, thread, and a ruler.
- Saffiano Leather
- Cutter
- Needles
- Thread
- Ruler
The next step was finding a pattern. I couldn’t find an exact one for the Galleria Mini, so I had to get creative. I studied images of the bag online, paying close attention to the dimensions and the way the different pieces were assembled. I sketched out my own pattern on paper, making adjustments here and there until I was satisfied. This was time-consuming! I measured the dimensions of the bag to be about 8.75” L X 4” W X 6.25” H, just like the original.
Once I had my pattern, I carefully cut out the leather pieces. I made sure each cut was precise, I didnt want to mess up this expensive material. The Saffiano texture was a bit tricky to work with, but I managed.
Then came the sewing. I decided to hand-stitch the bag for a more authentic look. This part took forever, but I put on some music and powered through. I used a strong thread that matched the color of the leather. I also paid special attention to the corners and edges, making sure the stitching was neat and secure.
After the main body of the bag was assembled, I attached the handles. I had cut out two short handles and one long strap, just like the original design. The short handle drop length was about 3.75” and the long handle drop length was 18”, which I think is the perfect length.
The Iconic Touches
I couldn’t forget the signature Prada details! I managed to find a small enamel triangle logo online, which I carefully attached to the front of the bag. I also found two small zip-fastening pockets at a local craft store and sewed them onto the sides. I also found a press-stud to fasten the top of the bag to secure my items.
Finally, after hours of work, my Prada Galleria Mini-Bag was complete! It’s not perfect, but I’m pretty proud of how it turned out. It definitely looks like a Galleria, and the Saffiano leather gives it that luxurious feel.
This project was a fun challenge, and I learned a lot about leatherworking in the process. I had quite a bit of trouble finding an authenticity card, but I did find a black envelope with the Prada logo online. I will probably keep the bag for myself, but if I ever decide to sell it, I know I can get a good price for it, maybe around $2,000, considering the original’s are even more!
If you’re thinking about trying something like this, I say go for it! Just be prepared to put in a lot of time and effort. And maybe invest in a good thimble, my fingers are killing me! It weighed around 2 lbs when I was done, so know it’s pretty hefty for a mini bag.
The tag says TU which means it’s a one-size-fits-all bag, and it is genuine leather so keep that in mind.
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