Finisterre
Rated: Great
Price: $$$
Location: UK
Quick verdict
Finisterre is best for ocean lovers and outdoor enthusiasts who want durable, responsibly made gear designed for cold-water conditions. The brand's signature innovation is its Yulex natural rubber wetsuits, a genuine alternative to petroleum-based neoprene, combined with a robust circular model including repair services, trade-ins, resale, and even wetsuit rental. Caveat: living wage assurance across the supply chain is not confirmed, and some production has moved to China.
Key info
- Headquarters
- St Agnes, Cornwall, UK
- Founded
- 2003
- Product categories
- Outerwear, Activewear, Menswear, Womenswear
- Price range
- $$$
- Key certifications
- B Corp (since 2018, first European surf brand), GOTS (organic cotton)
Finisterre sustainability rating
Our ratings are based on a scale from 1 (We Avoid) to 5 (Excellent). How we rate
Rating breakdown
Uses GOTS-certified organic cotton, recycled polyester (including REPREVE from ocean-bound plastics), Yulex natural rubber for wetsuits, British Exmoor merino wool (non-mulesed), recycled insulation, and PFC-free waterproof coatings. Biodegradable packaging has eliminated all single-use plastics.
Has a Code of Conduct covering ILO principles. Traces most of its supply chain and audits some suppliers. Shirts made in London. However, there is no evidence of living wage assurance. Some production moved to China in 2015.
Offers comprehensive circularity: in-house repair service (from £15), trade-in program, resale of pre-owned items, and the world's first Yulex wetsuit rental program. Wetsuits recycled at end-of-life, WonCircular Economy category and Overall Winner at Cornwall Sustainability Awards. No published emissions reduction targets.
B Corp certification provides a framework. Shares information about key materials, sourcing philosophy, and repair/resale programs. Merino wool traceable to Exmoor. However, a full supplier list is not published, and detailed emissions/environmental data is limited.
Premium pricing: T-shirts ~$48, knitwear ~$150–$175, jackets ~$200–$320, wetsuits ~$200–$545. Comparable to Patagonia. The premium is justified by genuine durability, repair services, and material innovation, but not accessible for budget shoppers.
What they do well
- Yulex natural rubber wetsuits: a genuine, commercially successful alternative to petroleum-based neoprene; first surf brand in Europe to use Yulex, now offers the world's first Yulex wetsuit rental program
- Comprehensive circular model: in-house repair service, trade-in program (earns store credit), pre-owned resale section, wetsuit recycling, and first global Yulex wetsuit rental scheme; won Cornwall Sustainability Awards for Circular Economy
- B Corp certified since 2018: first outdoor/surf clothing brand in the UK to achieve certification, demonstrating verified social and environmental performance
- British Exmoor merino wool sourcing: fully traceable, non-mulesed wool from a specific region, supporting British farming while ensuring high animal welfare standards
- Community-rooted brand with authentic ocean heritage: founded by surfer Tom Kay from a clifftop workshop in Cornwall; the brand's connection to cold-water surfing is genuine, not aspirational marketing
Room for improvement
- No confirmed living wage across the supply chain. While the brand has a Code of Conduct and audits some suppliers, there is insufficient evidence that all workers earn a living wage.
- Some production in China, the brand moved some garment production to China in 2015, which raises concerns about labor oversight and shipping emissions compared to nearshore manufacturing.
About Finisterre
Finisterre was founded in 2003 by Tom Kay in St Agnes, Cornwall, a clifftop village on England's Atlantic coast. The name comes from the Latin "finis terrae" (end of the earth) and references a former Shipping Forecast area. Kay created the brand to fill a gap: functional, durable clothing for cold-water surfers that was responsibly made.
The brand's greatest material innovation is its adoption of Yulex natural rubber for wetsuits, a plant-based alternative to the petroleum-derived neoprene used by virtually every other wetsuit manufacturer. Finisterre was the first European surf brand to commercialize Yulex suits and has since launched the world's first Yulex wetsuit rental program.
Manufacturing spans the UK (shirts made in London), Portugal, China, Turkey, and Romania—in 2018, Finisterre became the first outdoor/surf brand in the UK to achieve B Corp certification. Its circular economy model is robust: an in-house repair workshop, a trade-in program for store credit, and a resale platform for pre-owned goods. The brand has eliminated all single-use plastics from packaging.
The brand operates 10+ retail stores across the UK plus an e-commerce site shipping internationally. Pricing is premium: T-shirts from $48, knitwear $150–$175, jackets $200–$320, and wetsuits $200–$545. This positions Finisterre alongside Patagonia in terms of pricing and ethos.
Product highlights
Nieuwland Yulex Wetsuit
4/3mm full wetsuit made from Yulex natural rubber (plant-based)
~$400–$545
Industry-leading sustainable wetsuit; plant-based alternative to neoprene; recyclable at end-of-life; also available to rent
Stormbird Waterproof Jacket
100% recycled polyester fabric with PFC-free waterproof coating
~$295–$320
Fully waterproof adventure jacket without harmful fluorochemicals; recycled REPREVE insulation from ocean-bound plastics
Barents Sweater
Fisherman-style knit sweater in British Exmoor merino wool
~$150–$160
Traceable non-mulesed wool from a specific British region; modern update on a centuries-old maritime design
Bolster Full Zip Fleece
Recycled polyester fleece with zip front
~$180–$200
Everyday layering piece made from recycled materials; designed for durability with repair service available
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