FREITAG’S NEW SHIPPING CONTAINER STORE
by Jill Fehrenbacher, 06/27/06
One of the pioneering innovators in turning industrial refuse into functional gear is Freitag, the Swiss company launched by a pair of entrepreneurial bike-riding designers who decided that dirty old truck tarps would make ideal messenger bags. Frietag blew up quickly from its humble beginnings — it’s easy to love bags that are durable, waterproof, recycled, and one-of-a-kind. But in scaling up, Freitag’s never compromised their commitment to material reuse and local production (in Zurich).
But why stop there? Given their knack for putting a super-hip edge on recycling, they’ve now scaled up exponentially, with a concept retail space made from shipping containers. “Lovingly they were gutted, reinforced, piled up and secured. Zurich’s first bonsai-skyscraper.”
17 containers comprise the 4 stories of Freitag’s new Zurich store, situated near the transit bridge with roof-top views of the city. Who knew a simple cycling solution could turn into a high-style recycling empire?
If this weren’t cool enough, Freitag also makes “Patriotic Footballs” (Just in time for the World Cup) from recyled truck tarps. Viva la game!
[...] What Freitag did for Tarps, Feuerwear does for fire hoses. Launched earlier this year by engineering graduate Martin Klusener, Feuerwear creates three different models of bags and an assortment of belts from used fire hoses. All of Feuerwear products are extremely durable, given the nature of the material used — you could set these things on fire and they’d withstand the heat. [...]