Seasalt

About Seasalt

The story of Seasalt Cornwall begins not with a grand business plan, but with a simple need for a waterproof coat. In 1981, Don Chadwick and his family were on holiday in Penzance, Cornwall, when they entered a small shop called General Clothing Stores. They walked out not just with coats, but as the new owners of the shop, which catered to local farmers, fishermen, and artists. For two decades, the Chadwick family ran the workwear shop. After Don passed away in 2001, his sons, Leigh, David, and Neil, decided to create their own clothing brand inspired by their Cornish surroundings. The official Seasalt brand was born, transitioning from selling purely functional workwear to designing their own collections of clothing and accessories. Neil's wife, Sophie, a print designer, was instrumental in developing the brand's signature aesthetic of unique, handcrafted prints inspired by Cornwall. As the brand grew into one of Cornwall's largest employers, it attracted outside attention. In 2018, Seasalt received a significant £16 million investment from BGF and Santander to fund expansion, including the opening of 40 new stores. This move marked a major turning point, providing the capital to grow its physical retail footprint and improve its digital channels. In 2021, the founders explored a sale of the business to support further growth, but ultimately decided against it in 2022, citing uncertain market conditions.