New Pattern: The Zara, Inspired by the Loewe Puzzle Bag
- Chris Hall Murphy
- Jul 30
- 3 min read
Meet the Zara — Inspired by Luxury, Perfected by You
It's new pattern day! Introducing The Zara, an on-trend shoulder bag with sleek geometric lines and an asymmetric flap. The Zara was inspired by the iconic Loewe Puzzle collection — specifically the now-discontinued Puzzle Hobo Bag, with its slightly slouchier shape and large foldover flap. That being said, I did make some important modifications to make the Zara more customizable and accessible to home sewists.
The Zara Features & Details
Finished size: 11.5” W x 6” H x 3” D
Skill level: Confident beginner to intermediate
Bag features:
– Adjustable shoulder strap (can be converted to a crossbody)
– Unique asymmetrical flap (no stabilizer & no hardware)
– Zipper closure
– Exterior slip pocket on the back — the perfect size for a large phone!
– Interior divided slip pocket
– Interior zipper pocket
– Interior key fob
The Zara vs. the Loewe Puzzle
The Zara could be considered a dupe for the Loewe Puzzle bag, but it also has some key differences. So, what makes each bag unique? First let's take a look at Loewe's designs.
The Loewe Puzzle collection includes a variety of products, ranging from wallets to tote bags. However, when you hear someone talk about the Puzzle bag, they're usually referring to the classic Puzzle (below), which was introduced by Jonathan Anderson in 2015. It is a shoulder bag with a boxy, cuboid shape. It gets its name from the puzzle-like way that the pattern pieces fit together. You will notice that on the classic Puzzle, the pieces on the front do not overlap. There’s space between them, and a little bit of leather is peeking through from beneath. The flap sits on top of the bag without any hardware to secure it.
More recently, Loewe introduced the Puzzle Edge (below). It's very similar to the classic Puzzle, but the edges of the front pieces overlap; there is no space between them. There is also no piping on the Puzzle Edge.
The Loewe bag that most closely resembles the Zara is the Puzzle Hobo (below). It was released 2021 and has since been discontinued, but it's still very popular in the resale market. The Puzzle Hobo is wider and shorter than the other styles, and it’s also a bit slouchier. The flap covers more of the front, and it mirrors the silhouette of the pattern piece beneath it. The shoulder strap is stitched directly to the bag, not connected with hardware, which is part of what makes it a hobo bag.
The Zara was inspired by these Loewe bags, but it is not an exact replica. It borrows the geometry and overall shape, but the structure and details are different. I designed the Zara to be made with real or faux leather, and it doesn't require an industrial sewing machine.
I spent a lot of time on the flap to get it just right. First, I tried making some prototypes with a flap that sits on top, like the Puzzle and Puzzle Edge. Ultimately I ended up preferring the style of the Puzzle Hobo flap.
Watch the Video Tutorial for the Zara
Ready to start sewing? Watch my tutorial below to see every step of the bag making process.
And of course, don't forget to purchase the Zara PDF pattern — available at an introductory price of $12.49 for one week only!
I can't wait to see everyone's creative takes on the Zara shoulder bag! I invite you to post your makes in Simply Classic Bag Making Community on Facebook. Happy sewing!
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