Freitag & Comme des Garçons Expand Partnership with Dover Street Market Shops

Dover Street Market Ginza will host a permanent retail space for Swiss accessories brand Freitag, beginning Saturday, alongside a temporary installation at Dover Street Market London. The move follows a successful 2023 holiday collaboration between Freitag and Comme des Garçons, the avant-garde fashion label founded by Rei Kawakubo.

The novel installations will feature three exclusive styles of shoppers and key-holders designed in the shape of Dover Street Market’s signature “hut” emblem, a reference to the retail spaces’ cash wraps. The hut shape will be expressed through stitching on the Freitag keyholders, according to the brand.

Japan is a key market for Freitag, with “very loyal, long-term” clients, said Oliver Fischhaber, Freitag’s product manager and product lead. He noted that Dover Street Market’s clientele “have a highly educated eye and a deep sense of authenticity — precisely the audience we love to engage with.” Freitag currently operates 30 freestanding stores globally, including four in Japan.

The permanent space within DSM Ginza is designed to evoke the interior of a truck, referencing how cargo is secured during long-distance transport in Europe. The design incorporates heavy-duty floorboards, anchor rails, and tension belts.

Founded in Zurich in 1993 by brothers Daniel and Markus Freitag, the brand initially gained recognition for its messenger satchels, each crafted from upcycled truck tarpaulins and considered a unique piece. The company has since expanded its collection to include around 60 models, including belt bags and backpacks, utilizing salvaged materials like car seatbelts and even transforming old ski boots into cell-phone cases.

Adrian Joffe, CEO of CDG International, previously described the initial collaboration as “more than a sum of its parts,” highlighting a shared commitment to sustainability. Joffe also stated that he has been using Freitag bags for many years, recognizing the brand as a pioneer in addressing recycling and sustainability issues, according to a statement released in December 2023.

The “Holidays with FREITAG” collection, launched in December 2023, included a messenger bag priced at $451, a tote bag at $432, a minor postman bag at $325, a large postman bag at $289, and a grocery bag at $225. The bags were crafted in Japan from upcycled truck tarpaulins.