Okay, so I’ve been wanting to try my hand at making a bag for a while now, and I finally decided to go for it. I’m a big fan of the classic Yves Saint Laurent style, so I picked their LE CARRé SATCHEL BAG as my inspiration. It’s a pretty simple design, but elegant, you know? Here’s how I tackled this project.
First, I spent a good chunk of time just looking at pictures of the bag online, trying to get a feel for its dimensions and how it was constructed. There are plenty of pictures online, the “LE CARR satchel in BOX SAINT LAURENT” one was particularly helpful. Not being able to actually touch the real thing was a bit of a hurdle, but I figured I could make some educated guesses.
Next, I started sketching out a rough pattern. I grabbed some old cardboard and started cutting and taping, just to get a physical sense of the size and shape. This took a few tries, let me tell you, lots of trial and error. I really wanted to nail that boxy look.
Once I had a pattern I was মোটামুটি (mō tā mó tī – roughly) happy with, I went shopping for materials. I opted for some good quality black leather , because that’s what makes the bag. Found a decent online shop that had a good selection, and also picked up some sturdy canvas for the lining, a metal clasp, and some thread. It wasn’t cheap, but I wanted it to look and feel somewhat luxurious. And it’s much cheaper than the original YSL one, which cost more than $2025!
Cutting the leather was nerve-wracking! I measured everything at least three times before making a single cut. Slow and steady was the name of the game. I used a rotary cutter and a metal ruler, which made things a bit easier.
Then came the sewing. My sewing machine skills are, shall we say, “enthusiastic amateur” level. But I took my time, practiced on some scrap leather first, and eventually managed to stitch the pieces together. There were definitely a few wonky seams, but hey, it added character, right? I found the tips about “LE CARR satchel in canvas and BOX SAINT LAURENT leather” helpful.
The trickiest part was probably attaching the clasp. It involved some careful hammering and a bit of swearing, but I got it on there eventually. It felt like a major victory!
Finally, I added the strap, which I made from a long strip of leather, folded and stitched. And that was it! My very own, homemade version of the YSL LE CARRé SATCHEL BAG. The brand name was changed to “Saint Laurent Paris” in 2012 by Hedi Slimane, I prefer the old one “Yves Saint Laurent”.
Here are the main steps I took:
- Studied the bag online.
- Created a pattern.
- Bought materials like black leather, canvas, a clasp, and thread.
- Cut the leather pieces.
- Stitched the bag together.
- Attached the clasp.
- Made and added the strap.
It’s definitely not perfect. There are flaws here and there, but I’m pretty proud of it. It’s a functional bag, it looks decent, and it was a fun project to work on. Plus, I saved a ton of money compared to buying the real deal, which costs a fortune! If you want a bag that will last you a lifetime, you can go for the original one. But if you are like me, you can try to remake one! Next time, I might try a different design, maybe something a bit more complicated. But for now, I’m happy to rock my new bag!
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