FREITAG makes bags and accessories from used and, increasingly, circular materials. We think and act in cycles.
What began in Zurich in 1993 with messenger bags made from discarded truck tarps now comprises some 60 models. FREITAG products are robust, functional everyday companions which, thanks to repair and exchange services, can expect an even longer, more fulfilling life.
Thinking and acting in cycles is integral to FREITAG’s DNA. Thanks to holistic product design and well-thought-out services, our declared aim is to extend the life of bags and accessories. In a best-case scenario, we might even manage to close material cycles. We’ve already achieved this by developing the compostable F‑ABRIC clothing line and the circular F385 CIRC‑CASE smartphone sleeve. Launched in 2024, the Mono[PA6] Backpack marks another milestone on the road to the circular economy. As it is made of a mono-material, it is the first FREITAG backpack that is fully recyclable. And the research goes on. Together with industrial partners, FREITAG is working towards the development of a truck tarp which, after a long second life as a bag, doesn’t end up in the garbage but back in the cycle.
With its use of unconventional materials, FREITAG continues to surprise. Discarded tarps, car seat belts and bicycle inner tubes continue to play a major role, but used PET bottles, salvaged airbags and worn-out ski boots now all contribute to the diverse range. Additional life-extending services are increasingly taking center stage. Our repair system and the opportunity for fans to design their own bags are two services that aim to ensure FREITAG products are used and loved for as long as possible. With a series of inspired initiatives and campaigns, such as No to Black Friday and bag loans, FREITAG repeatedly succeeds in drawing attention to its vision of a circular future.
In 1993, graphic designers Markus and Daniel Freitag were looking for a robust, water-repellent bag to hold their work. Inspired by the multicolored heavy traffic that rumbled past their apartment in Zurich, they developed a messenger bag made of used truck tarps, discarded bicycle inner tubes and old car seat belts. That’s how the first FREITAG bags were created in the living room of a flatshare. What began as the idea of two brothers was soon to conquer the world of bags from Zurich across Europe and all the way to Asia.
Today, more than 230 people are employed by FREITAG lab. ag. Over 30 of them work at the Zurich-Oerlikon headquarters, dismantling, washing and cutting truck tarps, among other things. Long-standing production partners in Portugal, the Czech Republic, Romania and Bulgaria, together with a work integration program in Zurich, assemble the one-off bags. The bags and accessories are available in 30 FREITAG stores, from over 300 sales partners in around 25 countries, and on freitag.ch.
