Finisterre
Finisterre is a Cornwall, UK-based sustainable apparel company founded in 2003 that designs and sells Yulex wetsuits, recycled waterproof outerwear, and outdoor clothing to cold-water surfers and adventurers worldwide via direct-to-consumer e-commerce, retail stores, and stockists.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2003
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Finisterre does
Finisterre is a Cornwall, United Kingdom-based sustainable apparel company founded in 2003 by Tom Kay, currently led by CEO Will Sheane. The company designs, manufactures, and sells performance clothing and accessories targeted at cold-water surfers, divers, and outdoor adventurers, with product lines spanning Yulex natural rubber wetsuits, recycled waterproof jackets (Stormbird, Firecrest, Forecast), swimwear, organic cotton sweatshirts, and outdoor accessories. Core technical differentiators include Yulex-based neoprene alternatives, PFAS-free waterproof membranes, bio-based materials, and integration of recycled polyester, hemp, and organic cotton textiles — supported by B Corp certification and a circular economy strategy comprising the Lived & Loved repair service and Reskinned resale marketplace.
The business operates a primarily direct-to-consumer model through its Shopify-powered finisterre.com storefront (supporting GBP, USD, EUR, and CAD), supplemented by company-owned physical retail stores and a stockist network across the UK, US, Canada, Ireland, Germany, and France. Pricing is unit-based, ranging from approximately $25 for accessories to $320 for premium waterproof jackets, with no subscription model. Distribution is augmented by content platforms including the Hell Or High Water podcast and The Broadcast blog, an ambassador program, and collaborations with VEJA, XTRATUF, Snow Peak, Baabuk, and designer Amy Powney. The Finisterre Foundation extends the brand mission through charitable partnerships with Level Water, City Kids Surfing, and Tonic Surf.
Finisterre is privately held, with cumulative disclosed funding of approximately £9.7M raised across two crowdfunding rounds (2019 and 2022), the latter led by Active Partners and exceeding its £1.5M target by raising £4.6M to fund international expansion, supply chain transparency, and product innovation. The company employs 11-50 people and operates with no parent company or institutional venture capital control, preserving founder-led independence.
Finisterre firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Finisterre
- Legal name
- Finisterre
- Website
- https://finisterreuk.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2003
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Finisterre is a Cornwall, UK-based sustainable apparel company founded in 2003 that designs and sells Yulex wetsuits, recycled waterproof outerwear, and outdoor clothing to cold-water surfers and adventurers worldwide via direct-to-consumer e-commerce, retail stores, and stockists.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Finisterre industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Sustainable Outdoor Apparel
- NAICS
- Sporting Goods Retailers (45911)
- SIC
- Apparel & Other Finishd Prods Of Fabrics & Similar Matl (2300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Marine Apparel & Footwear Retail (Wetsuits, Rash Guards, Deck Shoes) (CRAMAIAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Swim & Surf Performance Wear (CRAAAEAG), Water Sports & Marine Recreation Retail (Paddle/Surf/Dive/Boat Accessories) (CRAMABAI)
Keywords
Where Finisterre is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Finisterre business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Direct E-commerce Sales: Direct-to-consumer sales through finisterre.com website and physical retail stores. One-time product purchases with prices ranging from approximately $25 for accessories to $320 for premium jackets. No subscription model mentioned.
- Physical Retail Stores: Brick-and-mortar retail presence through company-owned stores, selling full product range directly to consumers
- Repair Services (Lived & Loved): Garment repair services allowing customers to extend product lifespan, supporting circular economy model and customer retention
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Individual product pricing across men's, women's, and accessories categories |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
Finisterre product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Finisterre designs, manufactures, and sells sustainable outdoor apparel and gear for cold-water surfers and outdoor adventurers through a direct-to-consumer model. The product range centers on Yulex natural rubber wetsuits, recycled waterproof jackets, organic cotton sweatshirts and tops, recycled swimwear, and outdoor accessories, complemented by in-house circular services such as Lived & Loved repairs and Reskinned resale. Sales occur via finisterre.com, company-owned retail stores, and select stockists globally.
Product overview
Finisterre is a Cornwall-based surfing and outdoor apparel brand founded in 2003, offering a unified product portfolio centered on sustainable performance clothing. The core offerings include Yulex wetsuits (natural rubber-based swimwear), waterproof jackets (Stormbird, Firecrest, Forecast), swimwear (Spindrift Boardshort, Sula Swimsuit), organic cotton tops and sweatshirts, and outdoor accessories. The company operates through its e-commerce platform (finisterre.com) built on Shopify, supplemented by brand extensions including the Finisterre Foundation (charitable initiatives), Lived & Loved repair/resale service, community content platforms (The Broadcast blog, Hell Or High Water podcast), and collaborative collections with partners like XTRATUF, VEJA, and Snow Peak.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Finisterre Foundation: Charitable foundation focused on inspiring people to love and protect the sea, including projects like the Seasuit Project, Wetsuit Project, Level Water, City Kids Surfing, and Tonic Surf.
- Reskinned
- Lived & Loved
Products and services
- Yulex Wetsuits Sustainable wetsuits made with Yulex natural rubber, providing cold-water protection for surfers and water sports enthusiasts. Available in men's and women's versions as a flagship alternative to conventional neoprene wetsuits.
- Stormbird Waterproof Jacket Recycled waterproof outerwear jacket designed for outdoor adventure, featuring weather-resistant properties and sustainable construction. Available in men's and women's variants and priced around $320.
- Firecrest Jacket Lightweight insulated women's jacket made from recycled polyester, designed for outdoor activities and cold-weather protection, priced at approximately $205.
- Forecast Windcheater Jacket Wind-resistant jacket designed for versatile outdoor wear, available in men's and women's versions at approximately $120.
- Spindrift Boardshort Recycled men's swim shorts designed for surfing and water activities, offering quick-dry performance and sustainable construction at approximately $105.
- Sula Swimsuit Women's recycled swimwear collection of bikinis and one-piece swimsuits made from sustainable swimwear fabrics.
- Coho Sweatshirt Men's organic cotton sweatshirt designed for casual outdoor lifestyle wear, available in multiple colors at approximately $90.
- Solar UPF Long Sleeve T-Shirt Men's UPF sun-protective long-sleeve t-shirt made from recycled materials, designed for outdoor activities with UV protection, priced at approximately $85.
- Nimbus Insulated Vest Men's lightweight insulated vest (gilet) made from recycled materials, providing core warmth for outdoor activities at approximately $215.
- Lived & Loved (Repair and Reskinned Resale Service) Paid circular-economy service offering garment repairs for Finisterre products and a Reskinned pre-loved marketplace where customers can buy and sell second-hand Finisterre garments, supporting product lifecycle extension.
Quantifiable outcome
- Raised £4.6M in crowdfunding, exceeding £1.5M target by over 200%
Companies that use Finisterre
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Finisterre technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration9 records
Feature4 records
Finisterre partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- The Mills Fabrica / Fabrica XminorSelected as one of 37 exhibitors at the 'Performance without Toxicity' exhibition at Fabrica X innovation gallery in London, showcasing sustainable innovations alongside Vivobarefoot, Allbirds, Goldwin, Circle Sportswear, and others.
- XTRATUFcoreCollaboration with XTRATUF on a built-for-purpose ankle boot designed for sea-related activities. The partnership involved taking people with connections to the sea to Penzance for product testing and launch.
- VEJAcoreFootwear collaboration with VEJA, combining Finisterre's outdoor apparel expertise with VEJA's sustainable sneaker production to create limited edition products.
- Amy PowneycoreCollaboration with designer Amy Powney, creative director of Mother of Pearl, on sustainable fashion initiatives leveraging her expertise in ethical design.
- BaabukminorCollaboration with Baabuk, known for sustainable wool footwear, bringing new problems traditional solutions in the footwear space.
- Snow PeakminorJapanese outdoor brand collaboration bringing Japanese craftsmanship and outdoor expertise to the partnership.
- Level WatercoreCharitable partnership through Finisterre Foundation supporting Level Water, a surf therapy organization.
- City Kids SurfingcoreCharitable partnership through Finisterre Foundation supporting City Kids Surfing, bringing surfing opportunities to children in urban areas.
- Tonic SurfcoreCharitable partnership through Finisterre Foundation supporting Tonic Surf, a mental health surf therapy organization.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Finisterre competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Patagonia: Iconic sustainable outdoor apparel brand with deep surf heritage and B Corp-equivalent ethos. Directly comparable sustainability narrative and product categories (wetsuits, outerwear, fleece), but vastly larger scale and broader distribution than Finisterre.
- Arc'teryx: Premium technical outerwear brand regularly cited alongside Finisterre in sustainable outdoorwear rankings. Comparable premium pricing and performance positioning, though broader ski/mountaineering focus versus Finisterre's surf roots.
- Allbirds: Sustainable footwear and apparel brand co-featured at the Fabrica X 'Performance without Toxicity' exhibition. Comparable natural-materials, B-Corp-aligned sustainability narrative and DTC-led model.
- Fjällräven: Swedish outdoor apparel brand listed alongside Finisterre in '10 Brands Like Patagonia' rankings. Comparable heritage outdoor positioning and durable, sustainable product philosophy.
Direct peers
- Outerknown: Sustainable surf apparel brand founded by Kelly Slater, focused on circularity and recycled materials. Closest direct competitor in surf-specific sustainability narrative and product mix (boardshorts, shirts, outerwear).
- Rip Curl: Established surf brand with wetsuit heritage and cold-water product lines. Direct competitor in core wetsuit and boardshort categories, though less differentiated on sustainability credentials.
- Passenger: UK-based sustainable outdoor lifestyle apparel brand co-listed with Finisterre in 2025 sustainable brand rankings. Closely comparable geography, sustainability positioning, and outdoor lifestyle product mix.
Emerging players
- Vuori: Fast-growing sustainable performance apparel brand named alongside Finisterre in 2025 sustainable brand lists. Comparable DTC-led growth and premium positioning, though more athleisure-leaning than surf-specific.
- PANGAIA: Materials-science-led sustainable apparel brand co-listed with Finisterre in 2025 sustainable clothing roundups. Comparable bio-based material innovation and DTC model, broader casual apparel focus.
- Circle Sportswear: French circular sportswear brand co-exhibited with Finisterre at the Fabrica X 'Performance without Toxicity' exhibition. Directly comparable sustainability, circularity, and recycled-materials positioning in activewear.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Finisterre social profiles
Digital presenceFinisterre compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Finisterre financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Finisterre leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Finisterre funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Finisterre M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Finisterre
What does Finisterre do?
Finisterre designs, manufactures, and sells sustainable outdoor apparel and gear for cold-water surfers and outdoor adventurers through a direct-to-consumer model. The product range centers on Yulex natural rubber wetsuits, recycled waterproof jackets, organic cotton sweatshirts and tops, recycled swimwear, and outdoor accessories, complemented by in-house circular services such as Lived & Loved repairs and Reskinned resale. Sales occur via finisterre.com, company-owned retail stores, and select stockists globally.
Is Finisterre a public or private company?
Finisterre is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Finisterre founded?
Finisterre was founded in 2003. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Finisterre based?
Finisterre is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Finisterre make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Direct E-commerce Sales are the primary driver. The others are physical Retail Stores and repair Services (Lived & Loved).
Who are Finisterre's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Patagonia, Arc'teryx, Allbirds and Fjällräven. Direct peers are Outerknown, Rip Curl and Passenger. Emerging players are Vuori, PANGAIA and Circle Sportswear.
Does Finisterre have an API?
No public API is recorded for Finisterre.
What industry is Finisterre in?
Finisterre's product category is Sustainable Outdoor Apparel. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAMAIAJ, Marine Apparel & Footwear Retail (Wetsuits, Rash Guards, Deck Shoes), with a secondary code of CRAAAEAG, Swim & Surf Performance Wear. Its NAICS code is 45911 and its SIC code is 2300.