HANDMADE COUTURE: Make this look - A trendy shaped tote with gorgeous hardware features.

Have you been following the latest handbag trends, drooling over the new looks only to be quickly turned off by the crazy high price tags that come with designer bags? Or maybe scoping out bags that you see out on the town, wondering how to get that same look? If this is you, the Handmade Couture Series is for you. We show you how to recreate high end designer bags at a fraction of the cost using existing sewing patterns, Emmaline Hardware and quality materials. Have the same look, but you can make it totally you. Today, we show you how to recreate this Salvatore Ferragamo Medium Tote Bag:

This medium tote is the perfect everyday handbag, with classic clean lines and it’s minimalist look.  It features a zipper top closure, a front exterior zippered pocket, purse feet and is made with a luxurious blue calfskin leather. It measures 10.6” H x 11.4” L x 5.5” W. Love the look of this bag? It can be yours for 1250 USD.

Like the look of the Salvatore Ferragamo? Let’s be our own brand.

Pattern + Hardware + Fabric= Handmade Couture

Pattern:

The Epiphany by Chris W Designs is the perfect match for our inspiration bag. It has all the features of our designer bag and then some! It measures 11” H x 14” L x 5.25” D. It boasts a zippered top closure, purse feet, and a front zip pocket just like our designer bag.

Hardware:

Domed Purse feet in gold:

(1)  Hanging Tassel Cap:

Add this to the front of your bag to get the same look at the Ferragamo zip pull.

Strap Keepers in Gold:

Although our inspiration bag uses leather strap keepers, these are a great option to add some bling and are so easy to install.

Script Handmade label in Gold:

Forget the embossed Salvatore Ferragamo logo, use these to boast your own brand.

Fabric:

Our friends at the Tannery NYC have use covered with this beautiful indigo colored cowskin leather.

Leather not your thing? It’s ok, there are plenty of other options, like this navy faux leather:

Another great option is natural cork fabric, which is available from MM Cork Supply in Canada or from Sew Sweetness in the US.  You can get cork in a various colors and finishes, like this blue cork:

You can choose to do this in whatever fabric you are comfortable working with! A fun cotton print, canvas or even denim!  That's the benefit of creating your own, it's what YOU want it to be. Handmade can be couture too!

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Photos and content provided and written for Emmaline Bags by Cyndi Farfsing, from The Nosy Pepper. Cyndi's blog is chock is full of more bag photos and make making tips. Check out her bag series "It's in the Bag! Better Bag Making Series," to learn a ton of new bag making skills.

Share your projects made from Emmaline patterns and/or with Emmaline hardware in our facebook group Emmaline Bag Patterns & Hardware Group, or on instagram with the hashtags #emmalinehardware, #emmalinepatterns, #emmalinebags, or tag us @emmalinebags.