Okay, so, I’ve been messing around with this idea of recreating a classic bag, the YSL Envelope Bag. You know, the one that looks like a fancy envelope you’d get in the mail, but way cooler and you carry it on your shoulder?
First off, I started digging into what makes this bag so special. I mean, this Yves Saint Laurent guy, he wasn’t just throwing together any old purse. The story goes, he started making women’s clothes that were inspired by men’s suits. So, I figured, this bag’s gotta have that same vibe – strong, but still classy.
I started sketching, trying to get that envelope shape just right. It’s trickier than it looks! You gotta get the proportions right, or it just looks like a regular flap bag. I went through a bunch of paper, let me tell you. Then, I had to think about the material. This bag’s supposed to be fancy, so I couldn’t just use any old thing. I found this really nice leather, feels smooth and luxurious, and I think it matches the vibe of the original YSL bag. I also found out they used date codes on their bags, so I made sure to include a discreet date code on an interior leather tag in my version, just like the real deal.
- Sourcing the Material: This took some time. I wanted something that felt high-end, you know? Not that cheap stuff that falls apart after a few months. I hit up a few different leather suppliers, looked at a ton of samples, and finally settled on this one.
- Cutting and Sewing: This is where things got real. I’m not a professional seamstress, so there was a lot of trial and error. Let’s just say my first few attempts were… not pretty. But I kept at it, and eventually, I got the hang of it. Sewing the interior was a bit tricky. The bag is usually debossed on the interior material, behind the interior logo panel. I did not want to ruin the leather, so I decided to go for a fabric tag sewn into the lining.
- The Details: This bag has these little metal details, like the YSL logo and the chain strap. I had to find something similar, which was a whole other adventure. I ended up finding some vintage hardware that I think looks pretty darn close.
After a lot of work, a lot of frustration, and a lot of coffee, I finally finished it. And you know what? It actually looks pretty good! It’s not perfect, obviously, I’m not a big-shot designer, but it definitely captures the spirit of the original. It’s got that sleek, envelope look, and the leather feels amazing.
Was it Worth It?
That’s the big question, right? Honestly, it was a ton of work. But it was also a lot of fun. I learned a lot about bag making, and I got to create something unique. Plus, now I have a pretty cool bag that I can say I made myself. Would I do it again? Maybe. It depends on the bag, I guess. This YSL Envelope Bag, though, it was definitely a challenge worth taking. And who knows, maybe I’ll start a new trend, people remaking their favorite bags! It is a big deal after all.
So, yeah, that’s my story about remaking the YSL Envelope Bag. If you ever feel like taking on a project like this, go for it! Just be prepared to put in some serious time and effort. And hey, if you do, let me know how it goes. I’d love to see what you come up with!
Click to consult