Mar Wear – designed, driven and tested by Icelandic fishermen
Mar Wear produces state of the art workwear to withstand the rough seas of the North Atlantic.
Icelandic fishermen face some of the toughest conditions found on the seas while traversing the rich fishing grounds. Out there, the quality of the workwear is of immense importance.
A tale of fish and basketball
Founded in the small town of Grindavík, with 3535 inhabitants on the southern shores of Iceland, Mar Wear is driven by a family of fishermen. The Grindavík fishermen play a crucial role in the design of Mar Wear gear, using the products while bringing in the catch which drives on the Icelandic economy. All of the Mar Wear gear is designed with the needs of local fishermen in mind - tested and improved time and time again. They are no slouches, as Grindavík punches way above its weight in numbers – the town is home to the highest average cod tonnage in Iceland since 1982. In 2020, the Grindavík port landed the highest amount of cod in the country, with 9.26% of the total catch.
The majority of the folks in town work in fishing and contribute to the basketball team, one of Iceland‘s finest. These circumstances spawned Mar Wear, with founder Þorsteinn Finnbogason having worked as a fisherman for years as well as grabbing rebounds as the big man for Grindavík, winning back to back Icelandic championships in 2012 and 2013. Since 2016, Mar Wear has been his main focus.
Fisherman‘s friend
The products are made for the people who toil in them every day. It is this direct feedback that gives Mar Wear a competitive edge. Slight changes to seafaring gear might sound insignificant to an
outsider, but fishermen know the importance of small details. Added height on the protective sides provides shelter from rain and sleet, while extra pockets in the right spaces for knives and workwear can provide that extra edge to fishermen. The flexible yet sturdy garments have proven themselves when faced with the North Atlantic weather and seas.
„We can‘t do anything else but give you immense praise for listening to us regarding these overalls – how we want to design them and what they need to be able to withstand without being too heavy. The Fishtex overalls are total genius from your part, and a fantastic collaboration“, Icelandic fisherman Ómar Magnússon.
The Mar Wear line has expanded to include gear for workes in fish processing facilities. There are plenty of those in Grindavík, with fresh fish shipped from all over Iceland to be handled in Grindavík before it is shipped out. The processing plant gear can be applied to any kind of food processing facility, with many Icelandic ones now working exclusively with Mar Wear. It is in line with the Mar Wear way of thinking, constantly looking for new ideas and ways to improve.
The gadgets
The Mar Wear product range is quite diverse, expanding and improving every year. It includes everything from the specially designed nitrile glove, which is the only glove of its kind which handles temperatures from -30° C. The Mar Wear Thermo boots are also one of a kind, weighing only 950 grams - the lightest thermo boots in the world. They come with an anti-slip protection, as well as protection in the form of a kevlar plated sole and steel toes. The crown jewel is the Stormur Fishtex overalls - designed with durability and flexibility in mind. The Fishtex line is 100% water and windproof, with a double layer of PVC as well as Lava Carbon fabric which is highly abrasion-resistant. In Mar Wear products, small details provide an extra edge through comfort and safety.
The inspiration for Mar Wear remains the same. Designed by fishermen, tested by fishermen, and most importantly, used by fishermen. The state of the art workwear is made for the toughest conditions found on the high seas.
