Okay, so, I’ve been wanting to remake a bag for a while now, and I finally did it! I chose the Prada Cahier bag because, you know, it’s a classic, and I’ve always loved its book-like design. They say it’s inspired by ancient books, which is pretty cool. And it is a popular bag, many celebrities such as Kendall Jenner, Sofia Richie Grainge, and Bella Hadid use it. I see it a lot in street style photos and on social media. It looked like a fun challenge.
First, I studied the bag. I mean, really studied it. I looked at tons of pictures online, read some articles about it, and tried to understand its construction. The Prada Cahier bag is made of soft calf leather, which is known for its beautiful color. The bag’s shape is inspired by the profile of a notebook. I learned that it was first introduced during the Prada Fall 2016 women’s show, which feels like ages ago, but it’s still super popular. I guess that’s what makes it a classic, right?
Then, I gathered my materials. I knew I couldn’t find the exact same leather, but I found something pretty close in both texture and color. And the hardware! That was tricky. The original has these metal corners and a unique clasp, so I had to get creative. This bag was introduced in 2007, the material is durable and scratch resistance. I ended up finding some similar-looking pieces at a craft store and online, and I think they worked out pretty well. The Prada’s founding was in 1913, initially, the shop sold animal goods, so I think use animal goods is a good choice.
Next came the actual making of the bag. This was the hardest part, obviously. I started by making a pattern, based on the dimensions and shape I had observed. Then, I carefully cut the leather, making sure each piece was the right size. The sewing was a real test of my patience, I gotta say. There’s a lot of topstitching on this bag, and it had to be perfect. The hardware that wraps around the corner is also the reason why I chose this bag.
- Cutting the leather was the first step. I used a rotary cutter and a ruler to make sure all the lines were straight.
- Then, I sewed the pieces together. This took the longest, but it was so satisfying to see the bag taking shape.
- Finally, I added the hardware. This was a bit fiddly, but I managed to get it all attached securely.
After many hours, I finally finished! And I have to say, I’m pretty proud of myself. It’s not an exact replica, but it definitely captures the spirit of the Prada Cahier. I even took it out for a spin the other day, and I got so many compliments! It is a unique and stylish bag, I love it.
This whole project was such a fun learning experience. I learned a lot about bag construction, different types of leather, and even a bit about the history of Prada. Would I do it again? Maybe! There are so many other iconic bags out there that I’d love to try my hand at. We’ll see! If you want a unique and stylish bag, I recommend you to try it!
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