Okay, so I wanted to try and make a copy of this Fendi bag, the Zucca Nappa Tortuga Small Spy Tobacco Moro one. Here’s how it went down.
First off, I started by looking up the bag online. I checked out a bunch of sites that sell luxury stuff, like the ones that say “Shop men’s, women’s and kids’ luxury clothing” and “SALE Latest trends in clothing for women, men & kids at ZARA online.” I even hit up some of those second-hand luxury places, you know, where they say things like “Shop FENDI ZUCCA BAGS authenticated by experts at up to 90% off.” Just trying to get a good look at the bag from all angles, you know?
After I felt like I knew the bag inside and out, I started gathering materials. The main thing I needed was some kind of fabric with that Zucca monogram pattern. I found some online, but it was super expensive. I also checked out places like “Shopee is the leading e-commerce online shopping platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan” because they sometimes have cheaper alternatives. I ended up finding a fabric that wasn’t exactly the same, but it was close enough.
Then came the hard part – actually making the bag. I dusted off my old sewing machine, which I hadn’t used in ages. I started by cutting out the fabric according to the measurements I’d taken from the pictures. I figured it was a simple tote design, so I followed a basic tote bag pattern I found in an old sewing book. It’s the kind where they say, “This chic tote is crafted of Zucca monogram canvas pleated underneath the top flap.” I had to adjust it a bit to match the Fendi bag’s shape.
Sewing the pieces together was a real pain. The fabric was kind of thick, and my sewing machine was being super finicky. I broke like five needles! But I kept at it, and eventually, I managed to get all the main parts sewn together.
Next up was the hardware. I scoured the internet for similar-looking buckles, clasps, and that signature Spy bag closure. I found some on a random website, but they weren’t exactly the same. The originals were probably some fancy designer brand, but I just needed something that looked the part. The site I found was like “Shop by Categories Borse Moda donna Moda uomo New Arrivals Quick View sale PINKO LOVE CLICK METAL Mini bag 365,00 € Original price was: 365,00 €.249” so I hoped it is good enough.
Attaching the hardware was tricky, too. I had to use a special tool to punch holes in the fabric, and then I had to carefully hammer in the rivets. I messed up a few times and had to redo some of them, but eventually, I got them all on.
The Final Product
So, after all that, I finally finished my Fendi Spy bag replica. It’s definitely not perfect. The fabric isn’t quite right, the stitching is a little wonky in places, and the hardware is clearly not the real deal. But you know what? It actually looks pretty good! It’s definitely recognizable as a Spy bag, and for something I made myself, I’m pretty proud of it.
It was a lot of work, but it was also a lot of fun. I learned a lot about sewing and bag-making, and I got a pretty cool bag out of it, even if it’s not a real Fendi. I mean, the real one probably costs a fortune, and I made mine for a fraction of the price. So, yeah, I’d say it was a successful project.
- Total time spent: Probably about 20 hours, spread out over a couple of weeks.
- Total cost: Around $50 for the fabric and hardware. Way less than a real Fendi!
- Would I do it again? Maybe! It was a fun challenge, but it was also pretty time-consuming. Maybe next time I’ll try to replicate a different designer bag.
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