Okay, so, I’ve been eyeing this Prada Galleria Saffiano bag for a while now, and I finally decided to go for a remake. It’s not the real deal, obviously, but I wanted to see if I could get something similar without breaking the bank. So, the first thing I did was a ton of research online, I mean I was all over the place. I was looking into what makes a Prada bag, well, a Prada bag. Turns out, it’s all about the details.
I learned that the zippers are a big giveaway. If they’re not labeled with “Prada,” “LAMPO,” “YKK,” “Riri,” “Opti,” or “Ipi”, then you probably got a fake. Also, the lining on the inside, it should have the Prada branding, but like, it alternates directions. Oh, and the real ones are made with either this special “Jacquard” nylon or Nappa leather.
Then there’s the leather itself. I found out that they use this stuff called Saffiano leather, which is treated and embossed. It’s not like full-grain leather that gets that worn-in look over time. Saffiano stays looking pretty much the same. This Galleria bag, it’s been around since like 2007 and it’s one of those bags that never goes out of style.
So, armed with all this newfound knowledge, I started looking for a place that could do a decent remake. It took a while, and honestly, I was a little nervous. But I finally found a place and sent them all the details about the bag – the size, the color, the hardware, everything.
I went back and forth with them a few times, making sure they understood exactly what I wanted. It felt a little crazy, to be honest, but I was determined. After that was the waiting game. It felt like forever, but finally, they sent me pictures of the finished bag.
When I first saw the pictures, I was actually pretty impressed. It looked really close to the real thing! Of course, when I got it in my hands, I could tell some differences. The leather wasn’t quite as stiff as the real Saffiano, and the stitching wasn’t perfect in a couple of places. Also, the hardware had a slight difference in tone compared to the photos I had sent.
But honestly, for a remake, it was way better than I expected. It definitely scratches that Prada itch without costing me a fortune. Now, will it last as long as a real Prada? Probably not. The original bags are known for being super well-made, although I did read that they don’t really hold their value well.
- Zipper Check: Made sure the zippers had one of the correct brand names.
- Lining Look: The lining had the Prada branding, and it alternated directions.
- Leather Feel: The leather felt pretty good, even though it wasn’t exactly like the real Saffiano.
- Stitching: A few stitches were a little off, but nothing major.
Overall, I’m happy with my remake Galleria. It’s a good-looking bag, and it lets me have that Prada style without the huge price tag. If you’re thinking about a remake, I’d say do your research, find a reputable place, and don’t expect perfection. But you might be surprised at what you can get!
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