So I saw this PRADA Symbole Tote Bag the other day and I was like, “Damn, that’s a fine-looking bag.” But you know, it’s PRADA, so obviously it’s gonna cost you an arm and a leg. And frankly, I ain’t got that kind of cash to throw around. But I really liked it, so I thought, “Why not try to make one myself?”
First things first, I had to get a good look at the bag. I went online, looking at all the pictures I could find, trying to get a feel for the design, the size, everything. This bag, it’s all about that geometric pattern, right? That’s the real eye-catcher. I spent days just studying it, making sure I got all the details down.
Next up, I started working on the pattern. This was a real pain, let me tell you. Getting those triangles to line up just right, making sure they were all the same size, it was a lot of trial and error. I must’ve drawn and redrawn that pattern a hundred times before I was finally happy with it.
After that, I hit the fabric store. I needed something that looked and felt like quality, you know? Something sturdy, but also kinda fancy. I ended up going with this real nice material, it’s got a good weight to it and a subtle sheen that I think matches the original pretty well. And of course, I made sure to get it in black, just like the PRADA bag.
Then came the cutting and sewing. This was where things got real tricky. I had to cut out all those triangles, and let me tell you, there were a LOT of them. Cutting them out was one thing, but sewing them all together, making sure all the points lined up, that was a whole other level of challenge. I probably spent an entire week hunched over my sewing machine, stitching away. I did make some errors during sewing. But I think it’s OK, because it’s handmade, right?
Once I had the main part of the bag done, I started on the handles. I wanted them to be strong, so I used several layers of fabric, and I double-stitched everything to make sure it was extra secure. I attached the handles to the bag, and bam, it was starting to look like a real tote bag.
But something was missing. The PRADA logo, of course! I mean, you gotta have the logo, right? I did some digging and found out that it should say “Milano” on it, not “Milan,” and “Dal 1913” as well. Also, on some vintage models, the “R” doesn’t have a notch in it. I carefully sketched out the logo, making sure to get all the spacing right, then I created a stencil and painted it onto a small piece of fabric. I sewed that onto the bag, and there it was, my very own PRADA Symbole Tote Bag, kind of.
My Thoughts
It’s not perfect, obviously. It’s handmade, so there are a few little imperfections here and there. But honestly, I’m pretty damn proud of it. It looks good, it feels good, and it definitely captures the vibe of the original. Plus, I saved myself a ton of money! I won’t say that genuine Prada bags are not worth it, I’d say they are worth the price. But you know, saving money feels good. I think the key takeaway from this whole thing is that if you really want something, don’t be afraid to try and make it yourself. It might not be easy, but it’s definitely rewarding. And who knows, you might even end up with something you love even more than the original.
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