Swiss company Freitag, makes bags out of recycled truck tarp, airbags, car seatbelts, and bicycle inner tubes, taking the concept of recycling one step further by designing their products to be appealing in terms of both function and aesthetics. By virtue of the materials they're made out of, the bags are nearly indestructible, withstanding bad weather, dirty floors, bicycle grease, all manner of abuse. And each bag is unique in the way it reveals its origins.

My favorite is the Renegade (shown in red above), described as the "2 in 1 travel solution for all runaways." It's vertically oriented, with a padded shoulder strap, and the best part is that it separates into two bags, one for stowing and one for carrying. Great for any kind of gear for outdoor adventures as well as trips to the beach, they're quite expensive at $390 (though I imagine they'll last a lifetime).

The smaller messeger bags and shopping bags start in the mid-$100s.