FREITAG’s cult messenger bag just got a high-fashion makeover with help from Paris design rebels

The limited-edition Études Studio x FREITAG F41 HAWAII FIVE-0 blends upcycled design with EU star power

Freitag x Études Studio F41-E HAWAII FIVE-0 bag on work bench
(Image credit: Lucas Pierrot/ Freitag)

FREITAG’s rugged messenger bags have always carried more than your laptop.

Now, in a new collaboration with Paris-based design agency Études Studio, the Swiss bag brand is turning its iconic F41 HAWAII FIVE-0 into a vehicle for graphic expression and cultural dialogue.

The limited-edition release remixes signature design cues from both brands, blending upcycled materials with screen-printed EU stars, all wrapped in Études’ unmistakable deep blue.

The F41 HAWAII FIVE-0 has long been a favourite of commuters, creatives, and cyclists: a mid-sized messenger built from waterproof tarp with utilitarian good looks.

Freitag x Etudes Studio F41-E HAWAII FIVE-0 bag in hand

(Image credit: Jesper Damsgaard Lund/ Freitag)

But this new version, dubbed the F41-E, is more than functional. Each one-of-a-kind bag is cut from worn truck tarps selected for their blue tones, cleaned, reassembled, and then hand-screened with Études’ signature European Union-inspired stars.

A bold co-branded logo, merging FREITAG’s industrial lettering with Études’ stylised “É”, adds the final layer of identity.

Urban design as statement

Études Studio’s design language blends fashion, publishing, and political reference points, and that influence is felt here.

The stars aren’t just decoration; they turn the bag into a soft power statement, a subtle nod to shared values and creative resistance.

FREITAG’s upcycling ethos, meanwhile, brings its own story of transformation, from road-worn material to wearable gear for a new generation of thinkers and doers.

The Études x FREITAG F41-E HAWAII FIVE-0 is available now for 220CHF (~£203.42/ $276.89/ AU$421.96) from selected FREITAG stores, Études Studio’s Paris flagship, select global retail partners, and online at FREITAG and Études Studio.

Matt Kollat
Section Editor | Active

Matt Kollat is a journalist and content creator who works for T3.com and its magazine counterpart as an Active Editor. His areas of expertise include wearables, drones, fitness equipment, nutrition and outdoor gear. He joined T3 in 2019. His byline appears in several publications, including Techradar and Fit&Well, and more. Matt also collaborated with other content creators (e.g. Garage Gym Reviews) and judged many awards, such as the European Specialist Sports Nutrition Alliance's ESSNawards. When he isn't working out, running or cycling, you'll find him roaming the countryside and trying out new podcasting and content creation equipment.

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