Okay, so I saw this PRADA Cleo bag online and I thought, “I can totally make that!” I’ve done some leatherwork before, nothing too fancy, but I figured why not give it a shot? This is my journey of recreating the PRADA Cleo Bag, original order style.
First, I gathered all my materials. I already had some basic leatherworking tools, like a cutter, needles, and thread. I ordered some nice black leather online, it said it was top-grain, which sounded good enough for me. I also got some silver hardware – buckles, rings, you know, the usual stuff that makes a bag look legit. Finding the right leather was a bit of a struggle, to be honest. I went through a few different online stores before settling on one that seemed decent.
Finding the Pattern
Next up, the pattern. This was tricky. I couldn’t find an exact pattern for the Cleo, so I ended up sketching my own based on pictures I found online. I broke the bag down into its basic shapes – the front, back, sides, bottom, and flap. I measured each part roughly, I used a ruler and some common sense, and drew it out on some thick paper. I’m not gonna lie, my first few attempts looked pretty wonky. It took a lot of tweaking and erasing to get something that resembled the actual bag.
Cutting and Sewing
Once I was happy with the pattern, I traced it onto the leather and carefully cut out each piece. Cutting the leather was nerve-wracking! I didn’t want to mess it up, so I took my time and made sure each cut was clean and precise. The leather was pretty thick, so my hand did get a bit tired after a while.
- Tracing the pattern
- Cutting out the leather pieces slowly
- Double-checking every cut
Then came the sewing. I used a saddle stitch, which is supposed to be super strong. It was definitely time-consuming. I spent hours hunched over my work table, carefully stitching each piece together. I pricked my fingers a couple of times with the needle, but hey, that’s part of the process, right? My back did start to ache after a while, though. Note to self: get a better chair next time.
Adding the Hardware
After the main body of the bag was sewn together, I attached the hardware. This was actually kind of fun. I used rivets to secure the buckles and rings, and it really started to look like a real bag! Seeing it all come together was such a satisfying feeling. I felt like a real craftsman, ha!
- Attaching buckles
- Securing rings with rivets
- Admiring my handiwork!
The Finishing Touches
Finally, I added a lining to the inside of the bag. I used some soft fabric I had lying around. I hand-stitched it in, which took forever, but I think it was worth it. It just gives the bag a more polished look, you know? I also added a small pocket on the inside for my phone and keys. Gotta have that practicality!
And that’s it! My homemade PRADA Cleo bag. It’s definitely not perfect. There are a few wonky stitches here and there, and the shape isn’t exactly like the original, but I’m pretty proud of it. It was a lot of work, but it was also a really fun and rewarding experience. I might even make another one someday, maybe in a different color. Who knows? But for now, I’m just going to enjoy carrying around my unique, one-of-a-kind bag.
Click to consult