a timeline of British wetsuits

The Collection: Wetsuits

The wetsuits are listed in order of the date they were added to the website collection, newest first.

Circle One steamer 1979

Added to the website collection on Jun 06, 2010

This is a late 1970s/early 80s steamer by Circle One – Jeff Townsley’s surf company down in Exeter, Devon.

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Tiki steamer 1985

Added to the website collection on May 26, 2010

Tiki started life in South Wales in 1967 before Tim Heyland and Dave Smith hopped across the Bristol Channel to Braunton in North Devon. They soon became one of Britain’s leading surf companies, competing with the likes of Bilbo in Cornwall who had a couple of years head start on them. Alongside their classic surfboards ……»

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Tiki vest 1979

Added to the website collection on May 26, 2010

Wetsuit vest made by Tiki in Braunton, North Devon around 1979.

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Second Skin steamer 1981

Added to the website collection on May 26, 2010

Second Skin is a surf shop based in Braunton, North Devon established in 1975 by Andy Schollick. He caught his first wave on a wooden belly board at the age of ten in 1959 and started surfing seriously in 1968. On leaving school Andy moved from his home in Liverpool to live in the back ……»

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Homemade wetsuit 1970

Added to the website collection on May 26, 2010

This wonderful ‘beaver tail’ wetsuit jacket was homemade around 1970, and it was donated along with wetsuit trousers, spare material, the original suppliers’ brochure and full patterns for how to make it! The yellow tape covering the seams is there to try to help keep the chilly British sea water out. The first commercial surfing ……»

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