Okay, here’s my post about remaking the YSL LE CARRé SATCHEL BAG:
So, I’ve been wanting a YSL LE CARRé SATCHEL BAG for a while now. But, you know, those things are pretty expensive. I saw this one online – the “LE CARR satchel in BOX SAINT LAURENT” – and I just loved the look. It’s got that front flap with a square clip that’s engraved with “SAINT LAURENT PARIS”. Real fancy.
Anyway, I thought, “Why not try to make one myself?” I’ve done some leatherwork before, nothing too crazy, but I figured I could give it a shot. Plus, I love a good challenge. And, it might be a little rough around the edges, but I’m okay with that.
First thing I did was look up as many pictures of the bag as I could find. The official YSL site has some good ones. I wanted to see it from all angles, get a feel for the size, and see how that clip thingy worked. It’s called a “satchel inspired” bag with “a sleek silhouette featuring a front flap and rounded corners.” I guess that makes it a “contemporary classic.”
Next, I started sketching out the design. I’m no artist, but I did my best to draw out the different pieces I’d need to cut from the leather. The main body of the bag, the front flap, the sides, the bottom, the strap… all that stuff. It was a bit of a puzzle, trying to figure out how it all fit together. It’s amazing that YSL was founded in 1961, their design was really great, I had to take a lot of time to figure it out.
Then came the fun part – choosing the leather! I went to a local leather shop and spent way too long looking at all the different options. I ended up going with a black “BOX SAINT LAURENT” leather, just like the original bag. It’s got a nice, smooth finish and feels really sturdy. I also picked up some hardware for the clip and the strap adjusters.
Cutting out the leather was a bit nerve-wracking. I didn’t want to mess it up! I used a rotary cutter and a metal ruler to get nice, clean lines. It took a while, but I managed to cut out all the pieces without any major disasters.
The next step was sewing it all together. I used a heavy-duty sewing machine for this part. Sewing leather can be tough, but I took it slow and steady. It was so satisfying to see the bag start to take shape. For the edges, I used the rounded corners as I saw online.
The Clip
-
Figuring out the clip was the hardest part.
-
I ended up making my own version out of some metal pieces I found at a hardware store.
-
It’s not exactly like the original, but it works!
Finally, I added the strap and the finishing touches. I even managed to engrave “SAINT LAURENT PARIS” onto my homemade clip, which I was pretty proud of.
And there you have it! My very own, handmade version of the YSL LE CARRé SATCHEL BAG. It’s not perfect, but I love it. It was a lot of work, but it was totally worth it. I learned a lot along the way, and now I have a unique bag that I made myself. Who knows, maybe I’ll start making more bags. This was a pretty fun project!
Click to consult