UK Outdoor Brand Shifts to Regenerative Organic Cotton

British outdoor brand ​Finisterre has taken a significant step in sustainability by announcing that ​over 75% of its T-shirt line in the Spring/Summer 2025 collection will transition to ​regenerative organic cotton. This shift reinforces the brand’s commitment to low-impact natural fibers and supports biodiversity conservation and soil health improvement. Popular styles, including the ​men’s Cormorant T-shirt, ​men’s Harlyn T-shirt, and ​women’s Eldon T-shirt, are now produced using regenerative organic cotton.

Regenerative Agriculture: Replacing Conventional Farming

Finisterre previously adopted organic cotton to avoid synthetic chemicals and fertilizers. This transition to regenerative cotton marks another upgrade in its sourcing practices. ​Regenerative agriculture is a farming approach that restores soil and promotes ecosystem diversity. Through practices like crop rotation, cover cropping, and allowing fields to rest between harvests, this model enhances soil fertility and ecological resilience. Unlike conventional cotton farming often linked to soil degradation and excessive water use regenerative agriculture emphasizes restorative resource management.

Regenerative organic cotton combines the benefits of organic and regenerative agriculture, making it one of the most sustainable natural fibers available. Unlike traditional cotton farming, which relies on fertilizers, pesticides, and irrigation, regenerative methods such as crop rotation, cover cropping, and no-till farming improve soil health, boost carbon sequestration, and optimize water efficiency while preventing soil erosion and ecosystem degradation. Compared to standard organic cotton, regenerative organic cotton achieves deeper environmental repair at the agricultural source. It reduces reliance on fossil resources and combats climate change, earning its title as a ​​“restorative fiber.”​

The Significance of Regenerative Cotton for Fashion

Cotton farming has long been criticized for its environmental impacts, including soil erosion, chemical pollution, and excessive water consumption. The near-disappearance of the Aral Sea, largely due to cotton irrigation, stands as a stark example. While organic cotton reduces chemical inputs, regenerative agriculture improves soil structure and carbon sequestration to mitigate climate change.

Adele Gingell, Finisterre’s Impact Lead, states:“By shifting to regenerative cotton, we’re not just making clothing, we’re investing in the planet’s future.”

She adds: “We want to communicate the meaning behind this shift: organic cotton is the baseline, but regenerative cotton is the next true step for responsible fashion.”

This initiative reflects Finisterre’s deep environmental commitment and its determination to drive the entire fashion industry toward greater sustainability.

CARBON4’s Perspective

Finisterre’s large-scale transition to regenerative organic cotton signals a shift in sustainable fashion from “eco-labeling” to ​systemic transformation. Against the backdrop of cotton farming’s heavy environmental toll, this move not only aids soil restoration and biodiversity but also sets a forward-thinking example for the industry. Compared to traditional organic cotton, regenerative cotton prioritizes ecological repair and carbon sequestration, representing an ​​“advanced tier”​ of sustainable materials. As more brands like Finisterre take actionable steps to address climate challenges, “responsible consumption” may soon become a market norm rather than an idealistic niche effort.