Learning by Building
Revela UF was founded by four driven students in their final year at Nyköpings Enskilda Gymnasium as part of the Swedish Ung Företagsamhet program. In the entrepreneurship course, students create and run a company for a full academic year. They develop a pitch, write a business plan, manage bookkeeping, and seek external advisors who challenge and strengthen their ideas.
For Moa Enell, Mika Kihlberg, Hanna Bergfors, and Matheo Garthaus, UF was one of the main reasons they chose the economics program. The course stands apart from traditional classroom learning. It demands responsibility, structure, and initiative. It offers the chance to understand how business works in practice, from product development to sales and accounting.
Each team member carries a clear role. Moa, CEO, brings leadership experience from competitive sailing and drives the company forward with focus and direction. Hanna, Head of Marketing, has a sharp eye for trends and a strong digital presence, shaping how Revela communicates and grows. Mika, CFO, ensures financial clarity and structure, keeping the numbers in order. Matheo, Head of Production, brings patience and precision to the manufacturing process, safeguarding quality in every stitch.
Together they are aiming high. During the UF year they are competing in categories such as Sustainable UF Company of the Year and Pitch of the Year, with the ambition of reaching the national championships in May and spreading awareness about their brand.
From Sea to Stitch
The idea behind Revela grew from a question many sailors have seen but few have acted on. What happens to old sails once they are worn out? Often, they are discarded. For a team with a shared connection to the sea, that felt like a missed opportunity.
Revela manufactures handmade toiletry bags from recycled sailcloth. By sourcing used sails from private individuals, often through sailing networks and social media groups, they give high performance material a second life. Sailcloth is strong, weather resistant, and built to endure years of wind and salt. In its new form, it becomes a durable and timeless product designed for everyday use.
Production takes place in collaboration with Järna Väsk & Etui, a factory located about forty minutes from Nyköping. The facility has long experience in producing bags and similar products and is equipped to handle heavy materials like sailcloth. Revela manages preparation and groundwork, while the factory ensures professional stitching and assembly. It is a partnership that combines youthful drive with established craftsmanship.
Sustainability is not a marketing angle for the team. Instead, it reflects how they live. When they shop, they aim to choose long lasting products and avoid unnecessary consumption. That mindset shapes their business model. Each sail saved from disposal reduces textile waste and reinforces a circular approach where materials are respected for their full potential.
Sweden has around 12 000 sailboats, and sails are typically replaced every eight to twelve years. While the team does not yet have exact data on emissions savings, the scale of potential waste highlights the relevance of their concept. Their production is small and local, allowing them to use as much of each sail as possible while maintaining high standards.
Their connection to the sea runs deep. Moa has raced her entire life and sees sailing as both performance and identity. Matheo sails with his brothers and values the sea as a place for family and focus. Hanna and Mika spend summers in the archipelago, where the marine environment shapes their sense of freedom and belonging. For all four, the ocean represents community, joy, and inspiration.
Looking Ahead
Revela UF currently sells its products through Instagram and their web shop. It is a simple model, yet it reflects their hands on approach and willingness to build step by step.
Looking forward, the team wants to scale awareness, refine production, and continue competing at the highest level within the UF framework. Their ambition is clear. They want to prove that sustainability and performance can go hand in hand, and that young entrepreneurs can challenge how the sailing industry thinks about materials, waste, and value creation.
Revela is still at the beginning of its journey. What they have already shown is that innovation does not require massive infrastructure. It requires courage to act on a problem, discipline to execute, and respect for the environment that makes sailing possible in the first place.
Read more and shop at:
revelauf.quickbutik.com
www.instagram.com/revela_uf
