Finisterre
Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.
Last researched 3 November 2026 · 7 sources
Cornish surf and outdoor brand selling jackets, knitwear and wetsuits.
There's no proof Finisterre pays more than the legal minimum, which in China and Türkiye is below a living wage.
Better-graded outdoor
Graded higher than Finisterre, selling the same kinds of things.
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Why it's graded Lacks transparency
- Not met: Meets 3 of 6 Good requirements.
- Holds the grade back: It doesn't show that workers are paid a living wage, and isn't certified as working towards one. On Track needs at least one of these.
- It isn't Harm on record, because there's no serious confirmed problem on its record.
- Lacks transparency is still a poor grade: in supply chains like this, workers who can't be seen to be treated fairly are usually underpaid or unprotected.
Good requirements 3 of 6
- Not met: Pays a living wage, or holds a strong fair-pay certificationLiving wage: no evidence
- Not met: Respects worker rightsJudged on where its products are made: worker rights are poorly protected in China, Türkiye and Thailand.
- Met: Supply chain independently audited or certified, or at least 80% made in countries with strong labour standards
- Met: No child or forced labour findings or links
- Met: Names the factories or farms that make its products, or is fully certified by a scheme that holds and audits that listPublishes its supplier list
- Not met: High-risk raw materials (cotton) traced or certified, or not a major part of its rangeNot traced or certified: cotton
Red flags 1
- Red flag: No evidence it pays a living wage
Stars it would earn as Good
None yet. Stars only show on Good companies. About stars
Where it's made
From Finisterre's own disclosure: it publishes its supplier list. Its list covers only part of its range. The rest is shown as where clothes and shoes are usually made.
| Country | Share | Worker rights | Legal minimum wage | Forced labour risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| China | 41% | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| Türkiye | 22% | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Very high |
| United Kingdom | 18% | Regular violations | Close to a living wage | Low |
| Portugal | 8% | Strong protections | Close to a living wage | Low |
| Thailand | 4% | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| Romania | 3% | Regular violations | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| Lithuania | 3% | Strong protections | Close to a living wage | Moderate |
| BangladeshUsual for the industry | 1% | No guarantee of rights | Far below a living wage | Moderate |
| VietnamUsual for the industry | under 1% | Systematic violations | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| IndiaUsual for the industry | under 1% | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | High |
| CambodiaUsual for the industry | under 1% | No guarantee of rights | Far below a living wage | Moderate |
| IndonesiaUsual for the industry | under 1% | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| PakistanUsual for the industry | under 1% | No guarantee of rights | Far below a living wage | High |
Evidence
What we found
- Publishes supplier list
- Independent social audits of all its main factories
- Uses recycled metals or fibres
- Doesn't show where its cotton comes from. Cotton is linked to forced labour in Xinjiang and Turkmenistan, and child labour in several growing regions, so it can't be graded Good until it traces or certifies it.
Research notes Finisterre is a Cornwall-based surf and outdoor clothing brand, a Certified B Corp since 2018. Its 2023 Impact Report gives production by volume: 40% China, 22% Turkey, 18% UK, 8% Portugal, with smaller shares in Thailand, Romania and Lithuania. It names its finished-goods makers and lists them on Open Supply Hub. Since 2022 it has used Irish firm Fair Working Conditions for social audits, extended across its tier 1 suppliers in 2024, and ran living wage assessments with suppliers in Türkiye and China, but has published no living wage results or deadline. It ships to Australia.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| B Corp directory | Certified | Finisterre UK Limited has been a Certified B Corp since January 2018 (score 116.3). View |
| Ethical Clothing Australia | Not listed | Not in Ethical Clothing Australia's current brand directory; products are not made in Australia. View |
| Fair Wear | Not listed | No Fair Wear membership is claimed; the brand uses Fair Working Conditions for supplier audits instead. View |
| Baptist World Aid Ethical Fashion Report | Not covered | Does not appear to be graded in the Baptist World Aid Ethical Fashion Report. View |
| Business & Human Rights Resource Centre | Not listed | No supply chain labour allegations against Finisterre appeared in searches. View |
Sources and actions
Sources 7
Show all 7 sources
- B Corp directory: Finisterre UK Limited · search the archive · Certified B Corp since January 2018; overall B Impact Score 116.3; apparel; United Kingdom.
- Ecotextile News: Finisterre makes waves with B Corp certification (28 Feb 2018) · search the archive · Finisterre, founded by Tom Kay and based in St Agnes, became the first European surf brand certified as a B Corp (Feb 2018)
- Active Partners: Finisterre · search the archive · Investor Active Partners backs Finisterre; founded by Tom Kay in St Agnes, Cornwall in 2003.
Published by Finisterre or its owner
- Factories of Finisterre (page 1) · search the archive · Named makers incl. Inarbel, Sidónios, Egedeniz, Tsubasa, JC International, Robert Todd, Ladkins; FWC audits since 2022.
- Finisterre Impact Report 2023 · search the archive · 2023 collection by volume: China 40%, Turkey 22%, UK 18%, Portugal 8%, Thailand 4%, Romania 3%, Lithuania 3%, rest 3%; 92.6% of tier 1 audited.
- Factories of Finisterre (page 2) · search the archive · More named makers; FWC tier 1 audits extended in 2024; living wage assessments in Türkiye and China; makers listed on Open Supply Hub.
- Finisterre: Shipping · search the archive · Ships to Australia, standard AUD 25, free over AUD 265.
Company details
- Headquarters
- United Kingdom
- Last researched
- 3 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is Finisterre ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/finisterre, last researched 3 November 2026, accessed [date].
- Method
- Researched with AI assistance against published rules. How we check · What Lacks transparency means
Something missing or wrong?
Grades are opinions based on the evidence listed here. Send us evidence, or a right of reply if you represent Finisterre.