A Cornish outdoor clothing brand founded in 2003 that makes durable gear for life in and around the sea.
Finisterre makes enduring outdoor clothing for people who spend time in and around the sea. It is known for wetsuits made with Yulex, a plant-based natural rubber used instead of neoprene, and for outerwear using NetPlus, a recycled yarn made from discarded fishing nets. Its waterproofs are made without fluorocarbons, which the industry commonly uses. Its B Lab profile describes the company as being in the apparel wholesale and retail sector, with products sold under its own name.
The brand was founded in 2003 by Tom Kay, who has surfed British waters all his life. The name means "land's end" and echoes a sea area in the BBC shipping forecast. It started in a flat above a surf shop.
Finisterre says it was founded on three commitments, to its product, to the environment and to its people. In its B Lab profile it describes making "enduring outdoor wear for life in and around the ocean" and believes a business "can and should be a force for good." It became the UK's first B Corp certified outdoors brand in 2018 and was the second certified business in Cornwall. It says acting on the climate crisis is a business necessity and tracks progress through a climate action plan, while also monitoring its waste, water and energy use.
It is based in Cornwall. A business news piece from 2018 describes it as based in St Agnes, while a hotel's 2020s article puts its headquarters in St Austell, so the exact base is unconfirmed and worth checking. The company is registered as Finisterre UK Limited. It announced its B Corp certification in February 2018 at the Eden Project, in front of 150 delegates at a regional business event, and said the three founding commitments had guided its decisions for 15 years.
Its Save The Sea collection gives 10% of proceeds to partners such as Surfers Against Sewage, Project Seagrass and Oceana UK, and the Finisterre Foundation is its charitable arm. It has a Head of Positive Impact, Adele Gingell, who speaks on inclusive surfing for women and girls. The B Lab profile lists climate action, circularity, fair work and inclusion as focus areas. Jobs in a business like this cover product design, sourcing, e-commerce, retail, marketing and sustainability. We did not find culture detail beyond these values.
Website: finisterre.com
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