Okay, so, I’ve been wanting to remake this one bag for a while now – the Yves Saint Laurent LE CARRé SATCHEL. It’s just so classy with its simple design, that front flap, and those soft, rounded corners. I finally decided, “Screw it, let’s do this,” and started my little project.
First, I hunted down some info about the bag. I scoured the internet, looked at pictures on some online shops, and even checked out some pre-owned ones to get a feel for the real deal. Noticed this bag is also called “BLACK LE CARR satchel in BOX” on their official website. I mean, who knew, right? Looked at a couple of different versions, one was this cool magenta color, and another was your classic black. I wanted to get as close to the original as possible, so I started gathering all the details I could.
Then, I started figuring out the materials. Now, I’m not using the exact same stuff as the original YSL, because, let’s be real, that stuff is pricey! But I found some pretty good quality leather that has a similar look and feel. You know, there is a saying that I recently learned on the internet: “Technically, there is no difference between YSL and Saint Laurent besides the name change. The idea driving this luxury brand remains in the ready-to-wear Heldi Slimane’s collections and newer bags released.” I think that I should follow the original designs as much as I can.
Once I got the leather sorted, I started working on the pattern. I drafted it based on the dimensions and photos I found. It took a few tries to get it just right, but hey, that’s part of the process. It’s not like I’m a pro at this, I really spent some time on making the pattern.
Next up, cutting the leather. Man, this part always makes me a little nervous. One wrong cut and you’ve messed up a whole piece. But I took my time, double-checked everything, and got all the pieces cut out. I used a rotary cutter and a metal ruler, made sure the blade was sharp – the usual deal.
After that, it was time to start assembling. I stitched the pieces together, mostly by hand because I wanted that hand-made look and feel. There are some parts I used a machine for, like the longer seams, just to speed things up a bit. I followed the original design as much as I could, trying to get those rounded corners just right and making sure the flap lined up perfectly.
Finally, I added the hardware – a simple buckle for the front flap. I found one that looks pretty similar to the original, nothing too flashy. Attached the strap, did some final touches, and boom! I had my very own handmade version of the YSL LE CARRé SATCHEL.
It’s not exactly the same as the original, of course. It’s got its own unique quirks, a few imperfections here and there, but I’m really proud of how it turned out. It was a fun project, and I learned a lot along the way. Plus, now I have a pretty cool bag that I made myself!
What I’ve learned
- Patience is key: Rushing things just leads to mistakes. Taking your time, especially with cutting and stitching, makes a big difference in the end result.
- Details matter: Even small things, like the type of thread you use or how you finish the edges, can elevate the look of the bag.
- It’s okay to improvise: Sometimes you have to get creative and find alternative ways to achieve the same look or function.
- Practice makes perfect: The more you work with leather and sewing, the better you get at it. This was a great learning experience, and I’m excited to try my hand at other projects.
So, yeah, that’s my story of remaking the YSL LE CARRé SATCHEL. It was a challenge, but a rewarding one. And who knows, maybe I’ll try making another designer-inspired bag in the future. Any suggestions?
If you guys are interested in making bags by yourself, I strongly recommend watching some videos online first. I followed those creators’ steps, and I learned a lot from them. And as some people always say, making a perfume can be very labor-intensive, but the same goes for bags. Anyway, it was a fun experience, hope you like my sharing.
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