FREITAG

FREITAG's very first model, the messenger bag F13 TOP CAT, has been part of the design collection of the MoMA, New York since 2003 and is also still part of their collection today. Short-lived seasonal fashion cycles do not have much in common with Freitag's aim to produce timeless and robust one-offs. Instead, they encourage repair, be it with their own repair services or also by providing the necessary materials like spare buckles to customers. To extend the lifespan of their products, even more, all FREITAG bag owners can use our bag swapping platform

FREITAG's iconic Recycled Individual Products are not developed in the usual fast-paced fashion cycles, but they are based on a “Never out of stock” approach. This means their bags and accessories usually remain in their product portfolio over many years and there's no unsold overproduction

Since every FREITAG bag is unique, additional products are created when stock is low. In addition to their regular product portfolio, they offer online and offline customization services (and production on demand). At www.f-cut.ch, FREITAG is now inviting you to design your own messenger bag at the online cutting table. From now on, with four virtual templates and a choice of 20 to 50 different digitized truck tarps, you can design your own F712 DRAGNET messenger bag, to suit your own taste

As they are manufactured from used truck tarps, FREITAG bags are so robust and durable that there’s no need to buy another one right away. But sometimes, over the years, your functional needs or your own style can change. On the online bag exchange platform S.W.A.P. (Shopping Without Any Payment), all FREITAG bag owners can get rid of their old one-off bag hassle-free and exchange it for another one from somebody else in the FREITAG community - without spending any money

At FREITAG, it’s about thinking and acting in cycles. It’s a philosophy that goes beyond just creating bags from a used material, but they try to live up to it in a very holistic way. In addition to their wide repair offer, they also explore other services around their bags and accessories that follow the principles of the circular economy, like repairing, lending, and swapping, just to name a few. The goal is to keep materials in the loop as long as possible. Additionally, with the development of the F-ABRIC clothing line, they went a step further: this line of garments has been developed from scratch in a way that they are - along with their shirt buttons, labels, and threads - fully biodegradable on a compost heap, once they will be worn out. They literally leave nothing behind at the end of their life cycle! The clothes are made from vegetable fibers, hemp and linen and are produced in Europe with minimal use of resources

FREITAG first made bags entirely from used truck tarps, discarded bicycle inner tubes, and car seat belts. Each of their bags is recycled and unique because of the variety that comes with using upcycled materials. Since then, they have continued to use upcycled truck tarps in their bags, while also incorporating recycled PET and B-Stock material such as airbags

FREITAG has multiple initiatives in place aimed at reducing the overall climate impact of its operations. Along their entire value chain, they are actively working to further reduce direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions and are currently developing a roadmap to net zero in line with Science Based Targets. Additionally, they have a Code of Conduct for their production partners with CO2-related targets: they actively initiate measures for reducing waste, the consumption of energy, and other resources (e.g. water, materials)

FREITAG ships its products with low-impact packaging materials, such as recycled cardboard

FREITAG's longtime European-based partners are committed to complying with their Code of Conduct. The content of this CoC is an expression of FREITAG’s core values as declared in the FREITAG Principles. Additionally, the contents of this CoC draw heavily on UN Conventions. To ensure that network members comply with the terms of this CoC, FREITAG carries out regular checks, which take two forms: first, a self-assessment questionnaire, which members can fill out; or, second, announced or unannounced on-the-spot audits. Failure to openly communicate and eliminate infringements of the CoC may lead to the cancellation of the cooperation agreement with FREITAG. Thanks to this transparent, standardized form of dialog, we hope that the use of CoC within the FREITAG network will effectively ensure long-term monitoring and a continuous improvement in working, social and environmental standards

FREITAG has a whole bunch of different designers. Like other companies, they hand the creation of new models to the actual design department. But at the factory, the job of cutting up tarps is part of the craft and design process, too. Each bag pattern consists of several templates. The bag designers lay these out on the tarps in such a way that as many bags as possible, each as beautiful as the next, can be cut from the raw material. This is what makes every FREITAG bag unique

While many production steps still take place in the FREITAG factory in Zurich, they entrust parts of the cutting and all the sewing to some experienced longtime and European-based partners, who are committed to complying with their Code of Conduct. For transparency reasons, the list with their partners is also to be found on their website. They want to highlight that they chose only European partners for a couple of reasons: to limit our transport routes in our supply chain and thus keep our carbon footprint comparatively low, and because the local legal frameworks for production sites regarding labor and ecological aspects are usually more strict and more binding

FREITAG does not (and will not) use animal textiles or any other kind of animal products