But if there is one company that could convince me to change it would be Freitag.

Daniel and Markus Freitag started their company back in 1993, after having the idea of making bags out of the canvas sides from trucks. And used seatbelts, obviously.

As most trucks have the names and logos of a company on the side, the bags end up very colourful and, most importantly, completely unique.

The company’s website www.freitag.ch has a tool that allows you to design your own bag from tarpaulins currently in stock, which sounds like fun, but as their logo says, you bear the responsibility for how it turns out.

  It’s probably wiser to take a trip down to the revitalized Züri-West area of town, down by Escher-Wyss Platz.

The company has it’s showpiece store there, built of recycled containers, piled high to make one of Zurich’s tallest buildings. That’s not that high by most cities standards, but Zurich has strict planning regulations and I’ve no complaints about that.

If you can’t imagine what a bag made out of recycled truck parts would look like, here’s an idea but it’s probably best to get on the number 13 tram and see them for yourself.

Post from: The Switzerland Traveler

When I was a child, I used to see adverts for “The Ideal Home” exhibition held annually in London. To me it was quite obvious what that meant, a racetrack in the garden, a very large garage, probably a football (it’s not called soccer!) pitch in the garden.
In later years, I discovered that it was more about furniture, bathrooms and kitchens than about the merits of a long straight following a slow corner.

Anyway, the Swiss version is nearly upon us, running from 21-30 September. It’s held in the main Zürich exhibition centre at the end of the 11 tram line, and there is adequate parking.

You’ll find furniture, jacuzzis, sports equipment (I bought my first ever skis there 20 years ago) amongst the various garden implements and kitchens.

Specialist food shops, techniques and products to help you stop smoking, architects, you name it, it’ll be there. And there seems to be a special army section this year, but I’m not sure if that means you’ll be able to pick up an AK47 there. Probably not, as practically every Swiss male in his twenties has to have one at home anyway, so there’s probably not much of a market.

There’ll also be quite a few wine merchants there, eager to ply you with free wine in the hope of getting a signature on an order form. So maybe the tram is a better bet than the car.

There are over 400 exhibitors at the show, and a good time is guaranteed for all.

Züspa: 21. bis 30. September 2007 www.zuespa.ch

Messezentrum Zürich
Wallisellenstr. 49
8050 Zürich
Tel. 058 206 50 00

Opening times: 
Mon-Fri 12.00-20.00 Uhr (Restaurants open 1 hour longer)
Sat/Sun 10.00-19.00 Uhr

Entry CHF 12.- or CHF 7,- after 17:00
(No dogs allowed)

Post from: The Switzerland Traveler