Okay, so, let’s talk about my little project: remaking the YSL June Box Bag. You know, the one with the iconic Cassandre logo? It’s a beauty, but the price tag? Ouch. So, I thought, “Why not try making one myself?”
First off, I started by looking around for the original one, just to get a good look at it. You can find these YSL bags all over the place, even online. I found a few used ones, which gave me a better idea of how they’re made. I mean they are everywhere!
Then, I started gathering materials. The original is made of this beautiful diamond-quilted lambskin leather. I couldn’t get that, but I did find a pretty decent leather, and practiced my quilting to get it close to that diamond pattern. It was tough, honestly. A lot of trial and error, a lot of pulling out stitches and starting over. I wanted to make it black, because it looks simple and stylish.
- Leather: Took me ages to find something that felt right. Not too stiff, not too flimsy.
- Thread: Needed something strong, but also subtle enough to blend with the leather.
- Lining: I went with a simple black fabric. Figured it would be a nice contrast.
The hardest part, by far, was getting the shape right. It’s this cute, bulbous box, and it’s not as easy to make as it looks. I created a cardboard pattern first, tested it, tweaked it, tested it again. It had to be perfect, you know? I spent days just working on getting the shape right, cutting the leather, and sewing it all together. There was a lot of hand-stitching involved, let me tell you. My fingers were definitely sore after that! The original bags have these amazing details, like the way the seams are finished and the way the logo is attached. I tried my best to copy those, using pictures I found online and I got some ideas from other bags.
For the logo, I had to get creative. Obviously, I couldn’t just use the real YSL logo, so I designed something similar, I think it’s close enough to get the vibe. I used some metal to make it and attached it to the flap, just like the original. It was a whole process, shaping the metal, polishing it, making sure it was secure.
Finally, after weeks of work, I had my own version of the June Box Bag! It’s not perfect, of course. There are a few imperfections here and there, but I’m pretty proud of it. It’s like a little piece of luxury that I made with my own two hands. And let me tell you, carrying it around feels pretty darn good.
The Big Takeaway
This whole project taught me a lot about patience, and how much work goes into making those designer bags. I mean, I knew it wouldn’t be easy, but I didn’t realize just how much detail and effort is involved. Now, whenever I see a YSL bag, I have a whole new appreciation for it. It’s not just a bag, it’s a work of art!
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