Freitag Bags

It's always interesting to see what other people that have the same last name as you are doing. Its even more interesting if they are doing something cool, and in my case I can point to some Freitag brothers (Daniel & Markus) that are doing something pretty cool in Switzerland. They are making cool, and artistic bags out of recycled stuff (vinyl truck tarps, seatbelts, and bicycle inner-tubes).

I like two things about the company, first the bags are made out of recycled materials, and second no two bags the company makes are the same. Since they take vinyl off trucks that often have advertisements on them, you get a different design every time. If you check out their web site you will find a custom bag builder, and also lots of other crazy things like a game where you steal vinyl off trucks.

Here's an excerpt from Hive Modern:

Individual recycled freeway bags..... in Europe freight trucks are covered with removable heavy-duty vinyl tarps. They are virtually indestructible and display various colors, logos and different degrees of patina. In 1993 the brothers Freitag, graphic designers by trade, had a bright idea and decided to turn one of these tarps into a proto-type messenger bag. The first bag was slightly crude, mis-shapen and born on their kitchen table, but they loved it anyway and the Freitag Bag was unleashed to the world. From these humble beginnings, the Freitag bag has gained a loyal following with the cogniscenti. Like snowflakes or people, no two bags are alike. Each one displays different degrees of wear, patina, colors, patterning, and if you choose, graphic remnants from the trucks they once served.

Freitag Bag's makes more than just Messenger bags, they also make wallets, purses, soccer balls, and even lap top sleeves

The Book

Whats more is that there is even a coffee table book on the Freitag Bags called: Freitag: Individual Recycled Freeway Bags ISBN: 3907078470

Far more than one of those thick books with modern layout and strangely-cropped images (which is what it appears to be on first glance). This book is a great read (even though there is only text on 1 out of 5 pages) and documents in photographs and words how the Freitag bag was developed, adopted by the masses, and used. If you want to see a product and design philosophy that is beyond "green", this is a good place to start. Smart, very smart.

For those of you that speak german you know that Freitag, means Friday in german, so while Freitag is not that common of a name in the states, its a bit more common in Europe.