So, I saw this PRADA Bowler Bag at the official flagship store the other day, and I thought, “I can totally remake this!” I’ve always been a bit of a DIY guy, you know, love getting my hands dirty. First, I spent a whole afternoon just staring at the pictures of the bag online, trying to memorize every stitch and curve. I even went back to the store like three times to get a closer look. Security started giving me the side-eye, but whatever, I was on a mission.
Next, I had to find the materials. I hit up a bunch of fabric stores, looking for that perfect leather that felt just like the original. Let me tell you, it was not easy. I felt like Goldilocks but with leather swatches, “This one’s too soft, this one’s too rough…” Finally, after what felt like forever, I found the one. Score!
Then came the actual making part. I dusted off my old sewing machine, which I hadn’t used in ages. Threading the needle was a nightmare! I poked myself like five times. I used to use it for my games and anime figure mods, so it was in a pretty bad shape. I also checked some art books about making bags for reference. After that, it was all about cutting, sewing, and praying that it would all come together. I even listened to some drama CDs for some BGM. There were moments of doubt, like when I accidentally sewed the zipper on backward. Had to rip it out and start again. Ugh.
- Cut the leather pieces.
- Sew the sides together.
- Attach the handles.
- Attach the zipper again… the right way this time.
Finally, after days of work, countless hours of sweat and maybe a few tears, it was done! My very own, homemade, totally-not-official PRADA Bowler Bag. It wasn’t perfect, a bit janky in places, but it was mine. I even added a little personal touch, a small pocket on the inside for my phone, which the original didn’t have. I can tell you it took me at least 2 days to do the URL encoding and decoding just to get the right dimensions.
The Result?
It looked pretty darn close to the real thing, if I do say so myself. I took it out for a spin, and even got a few compliments. Someone even asked me if it was a real PRADA. Mission accomplished, I guess? I know it is not the real deal, but I made it with my two hands! This will teach those big brands to charge so much. I feel a sense of accomplishment and will keep making more!
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