FASHION REVOLUTION



Finisterre
Finisterre is a sustainable surfing brand with its headquarters located in St Agnes, Cornwall opposite surfers against sewage. The founder of the business is 38 year old Tom Kay who started the company back in 2002. The brands aim is longevity and sustainability. Finisterre wants to create clothes that are still wearable after 30 years. They are not interested in fast fashion, so quality is very important to them. This approach has got them many awards, making them well recognised in the surf industry. They even have a top 10 surfer Carlos Burle as a brand ambassador.
Finisterre are very different form their compettitors such as Quicksilver and Billabong in the way that their clothes have a lifetime guarantee. If there clothes every get a snag or a rip in, the customer can send it back to them and they will patch it up. Often at no extra charge.
The production of their clothes is also very ethical with on of their coats being ‘made by a social regeneration project run by nuns for the disadvantaged in Colombia, using the world's first closed-loop polyester recycling scheme.’ (Dugan, 2009) Whilst the wool for their hats and socks comes from Marino wool, that is sourced from a farm in devon. Marino wool naturally takes moisture away from the skin and isn't made using polluting chemicals it also has antibacterial qualities and is still able to remain warm when wet.
“Lesley has built up the flock to 250 and we have supported her all the way. We knew this was a commitment for years, livestock rearing takes time. But it is now paying off. We take everything she can supply, the wool is spun in Halifax and we use it for underwear - now our most popular product is our merino long johns - and in fabric innovation. Our latest jeans are a blend of merino and denim, made for us in Manchester. Within just one product you have the seeds of a British agricultural and manufacturing renaissance.”
“Another sterling success is Finisterre’s latest venture, a £90 pen knife, designed to open easily by cold hands in freezing conditions. Developed by Sheffield’s steel blade experts the Eggington Group, the first batch sold out after a day.” (Frost and Kay, 2014)
Pictures:
Finisterre UK (no date) Available at: http://www.finisterreuk.com (Accessed: 15 October 2015).
Text:
Dugan, E. (2009) Riding the wave. Available at: http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/green-living/riding-the-wave-finisterre-has-become-the-favourite-brand-of-discerning-surfers-by-prioritising-1707709.html (Accessed: 11 October 2015).
Frost, M. and Kay, T. (2014) FTSE 100 jumps amid stellar manufacturing news. Available at: http://www.express.co.uk/finance/city/540019/Waves-of-joy-for-surf-clothing-firm-Finisterre (Accessed: 11 October 2015).