High-performance trail running garments made in the canton of Fribourg and insured for life in the event of damage – this is the innovative and resolutely sustainable project of Fribourg-based start-up Revario, which we are delighted to support as part of our mentoring program.
When it comes to taking on the mountains on a run, it’s best to have equipment that will stand up to the test. In sports stores, the choice of sportswear is vast, but with a major problem: the textile trade that produces these items is the third most polluting industry in the world. This is where Revario comes in. Based in Marly in the canton of Fribourg, the start-up has chosen to put a circular approach at the heart of its business model, offering a local, environmentally-friendly alternative to items transported from the other side of the planet.
The tank tops, sweaters, t-shirts, leggings and shorts offered by Revario are made from recycled materials sourced within a 600-kilometer radius of the production site in Marly. For example, some of the nylon is produced from abandoned fishing nets recovered from the Adriatic Sea. Final assembly of the garments is carried out entirely in the canton of Fribourg. Each purchase is sent by post in a package that can be returned and reused several hundred times. Finally, Revario offers a unique lifetime repair service (excluding natural wear and tear) for fabric tears and faulty zippers. This ambitious service underlines the resolutely circular approach of the start-up’s business model.
Created in 2020, Revario has chosen to set up in the canton of Fribourg to strengthen its collaboration with the cantonal sewing schools and to develop its commercial activity in both French and German-speaking Switzerland. Fri Up will support the team in product development and marketing, as well as in the search for financial partners to continue the company’s expansion.