Finisterre (retailer)

Finisterre
Industry
Founded2003
HeadquartersSt Agnes
Key people
Tom Kay, Founder
Productswetsuits
jackets
underwear
outerwear
Websitefinisterre.com

Finisterre is an outdoor apparel and surfwear company with a focus on functional and sustainable products.[1] Based in St Agnes, Cornwall,[2] and founded by Tom Kay in 2003, they are recognised as a cold water surf company.[2][3][4]

History

In 2003, Tom Kay[5] founded Finisterre above a surf shop after noticing problems with the ethics, design and functionality of many action sports brands. It started with a fleece and quickly grew to include a range of clothing for surfers to wear before and after surfing.[6]

In 2023, Finisterre were developing a wetsuit made out of recycled neoprene from old suits.[7]

Products

Finisterre produces a range of technical clothing including merino underwear and base layers, waterproof and insulated jackets, sweatshirts, hoodies along with clothing for running and yoga. In all lines of Finisterre's clothing range, performance and sustainability are key factors. The products have been well reviewed by a number of sources for both their performance and green credentials.[8][9][10]

Exclusive fabrics such as "C-shell" used in the "Anabatic Jacket" have been developed using recycled polyester and is fully recyclable at the end of the jackets lifespan. Recycled polyester is also used to make the fill in the range of insulated jackets as well as fleeces. The range of sweatshirts and Tshirts are all produced from Organic Cotton that is grown in Eastern Europe and spun in Portugal. Finisterre produce a range of merino wool layers including long johns, underwear, vests, and short and long sleeve t-shirts. The merino wool is sourced from Australia with full traceability reports to ensure none of the sheep subjected to the practice of mulesing.[11][12]

In 2015, the production of many garments was controversially moved to China. Despite Human Rights abuses and other ethical concerns, Finisterre defended the move on the grounds of overall carbon footprint and the need of a small business to grow.[13] In 2019, Finisterre announced to use garment bags made from Aquapak polymer for the spring 2020 collection.[14]

Projects

Bowmont Wool

The Bowmont sheep[15] is an extremely rare breed that was bred in the 1980s to create a new high quality fibre, by crossing a Saxon Merino with a Shetland. This project was undertaken by the Macaulay Institute in order to create a breed of sheep intended as a UK rival to the fine wool of the merino sheep in New Zealand and Australia. In 2006 due to lack of funding the Macaulay Institute closed their research farm after 25 years just when the sheep were becoming consistent and the breed stabilising. At this time there wasn’t a large enough market for the fine wool so many of the sheep got either slaughtered or cross bred, creating a less luxurious fibre. Finisterre have teamed up with Lesley Prior at Devon Fine Fibres,[16] the only keeper of purebred Bowmont sheep, to rescue the breed from the brink of extinction, create a sustainable market for the wool and aid in the breed’s development and keeping them alive. With the help of clever promotional material and viral videos[17][18] the project is getting a lot of attention from the likes of Prince Charles and Savile Row[19] with a large interest in the sustainability of producing high quality, fine wool in the UK. The Bowmont will be the finest wool sheep in Europe; only being challenged by the merino in further afield parts of the world.[20]

I-spy - Traceability Programme

The i-spy initiative is a tool on Finisterre's website that is a clear and concise source of information showing the traceability of the Finisterre products. It shows the full cycle of the Finisterre products from design through to reaching the customer. Within the cycle it enables the viewer to get detailed information about exactly what materials are used and where they are sourced, where and how the materials are processed, the location of the manufacturing and how the materials and products are transported between each of these steps.[21]

Ambassadors

Finisterre supports a number of athletes and adventurers in a range of pursuits. Known as ambassadors[22] for the brand these people include

Finisterre also supported former Rugby player Josh Lewsey on his attempt to climb Mount Everest.[23] Sadly Josh did not reach the summit due to a failure within his oxygen equipment and was forced to descend in a matter of life and death urgency.[24]

Awards

During the company's history it has received a range of awards. Their awards include the RSPCA good business Award 2010,[25] Observer Ethical Business Award 2008[26][27] and the Surfer’s Path Green Wave Award 2008.[28]

Finisterre became a certified B Corporation in January 2018.[29]

References

  1. ^ "History". Finisterre. Retrieved 25 April 2017.
  2. ^ a b "Ethical Surf Clothing Company Owner". Real Cool Futures. Real Cool Futures. Archived from the original on 10 June 2015. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  3. ^ "The Only Cold Water Surf Company In The World". Such & Such. Such & Such. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  4. ^ "Finisterre Cold Water Surf Pioneers". Breaks Mag. Breaks Mag. Archived from the original on 6 February 2015. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  5. ^ "Tom Kay Case study - ethical clothing company owner". www.realcoolfutures.com. Archived from the original on 10 January 2012. Retrieved 6 October 2011.
  6. ^ "Riding the wave: Finisterre has become the favourite brand of". The Independent. 21 June 2009. Retrieved 25 April 2017.
  7. ^ "Surf champ Lucy Campbell says her sport must be greener". BBC News. 16 May 2023. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  8. ^ "Bristol Running review". Bristol running. Retrieved 6 October 2011.
  9. ^ "Yoga Cornwall". Yoga cornwall. Archived from the original on 13 September 2011. Retrieved 6 October 2011.
  10. ^ "bike magic review". bikemagic.com. Retrieved 6 October 2011.
  11. ^ "Ethical Sportswear". the manifest. Retrieved 6 October 2011.
  12. ^ "Uk's sustainable answer to Patagonia". theginlady.com. Retrieved 6 October 2011.
  13. ^ Magazine, Wavelength Surf (1 September 2015). "Finisterre move some production to China". Wavelength Surf Magazine - since 1981. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  14. ^ "Finisterre to package garments in marine-safe bags". just-style. 10 October 2019. Retrieved 15 May 2020.[permanent dead link‍]
  15. ^ "Bowmont sheep". Devon Fine Fibers. Archived from the original on 25 April 2012. Retrieved 6 October 2011.
  16. ^ Salter, Jessica (16 May 2011). "Lesley Prior - the Ethical cashmere and wool producer". The Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 20 May 2011. Retrieved 6 October 2011.
  17. ^ "Surfing sheep video". Finisterre.
  18. ^ "Surfing sheep Article and background". amelias magazine. Retrieved 6 October 2011.
  19. ^ "Bowmont Sheep Visit Saville Row". Drift Magazine. Archived from the original on 23 April 2012. Retrieved 12 October 2011.
  20. ^ "Finisterre - Bowmont project". Finisterre. Retrieved 6 October 2011.
  21. ^ "I-spy initiative". Finisterre. Retrieved 6 October 2011.
  22. ^ "Finisterre - Ambassadors". Finisterre. Retrieved 6 October 2011.
  23. ^ "Rugby star tells how he feared for his life on Everest". This is Cornwall. 3 June 2010. Retrieved 6 October 2011.[permanent dead link‍]
  24. ^ "Rugby star Josh Lewsey's Mount Everest attempt fails". BBC news. 27 May 2010. Retrieved 6 October 2011.
  25. ^ "RSPCA 2010 awards winners - Finisterre". Archived from the original on 5 April 2012. Retrieved 6 October 2011.
  26. ^ Siegle, Lucy (8 June 2008). "Observer ethical business awards 2008". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 6 October 2011.
  27. ^ "Surfers Path - Observer Ethical Awards 2008 article". Surfers Path. 2008. Archived from the original on 25 April 2012. Retrieved 6 October 2011.
  28. ^ "Surfers Path Green Waves Award 2008". Surfers Path. 2008. Retrieved 6 October 2011.
  29. ^ "B Impact Report on Finisterre". Retrieved 12 November 2021.