It All Started with a Mirror

Uhip has become a go-to name for functional equestrian wear, dedicated to swapping out discomfort for practicality and easing life for both seasoned riders and casual enthusiasts. But how did it all begin? The story takes us back to a biting winter day, when one shivering entrepreneur had a spark of inspiration.

Let’s rewind to December 2010, a month that went down as one of the coldest in Sweden in over a century. In Näsbypark, just north of Stockholm, amateur rider Ulrika Falkman unwrapped a thoughtful gift from her husband: an insulated riding skirt. Standing in front of the mirror, something caught her eye.

The skirt’s zippers were positioned on the sides, which gave her an idea. “What if the zippers were repositioned to the front and back?” Ulrika wondered. “The sides of the skirt would drape down and keep my thighs warm while riding, making bulky thermal pants unnecessary.”

That simple observation turned into a breakthrough moment.

Realizing she was onto something, Ulrika shared the idea with her husband. They let it simmer for a while before deciding: this was worth pursuing.

With sewing in her DNA—her grandmother was a seamstress, and both she and her mother had spent years creating with fabric—Ulrika didn’t hesitate to get to work. “I put together a prototype myself,” she recalls. “My husband filmed a few clips of me testing it, and it was clear the design worked perfectly.”

The first prototype did exactly what Ulrika envisioned—it kept the cold out, allowing riders to stay warm in breeches without bulky layers. She added finishing touches, including leg straps to keep the skirt secure even on windy days. The final design was so innovative it earned a design patent and a name: Uhip. The “U” stood for Ulrika, and “hip” nodded to its functionality for the hips.

Drawing from her extensive background in finance and marketing, Ulrika turned her vision into a business. Her experience gave her an edge, from crafting business strategies to securing funding, allowing her to transition seamlessly from corporate leader to entrepreneur.

“Finding the right factories was a learning curve,” Ulrika admits. “I had no idea production lead times were usually six to eight months. But within a couple of months, I already had my first skirts—a blue one, a brown one, and a black one.”

In the fall of 2011, she debuted the riding skirt on Facebook. The response was immediate and overwhelmingly positive. Riders loved the idea of functional equestrian clothing, and the buzz spread quickly. Customers even coined the term “riding skirt,” which stuck.

From humble beginnings in her home in Näsbypark, Uhip grew quickly. A pop-up shop opened, the team expanded, and new designs followed. The long riding coat, introduced shortly after, became a bestseller, and Uhip’s presence grew beyond Sweden, reaching international markets.

Today, Uhip’s product line includes everything from jackets and parkas to breeches and tights, designed for women, men, and children. What started as a clever idea on a freezing winter day has evolved into a success story—one that continues to make life warmer, easier, and more comfortable for equestrians everywhere.

Every journey has a beginning.

This one started with a mirror.

Written by guest blogger and journalist Daniel Enestubbe.