Our Story

The idea for Kosin was born during the first lockdown. Andy had been placed on furlough and was staring redundancy in the face. He and Joel decided to meet up for a surf at The Wave in Bristol, to get into the water and just forget about their stresses for a while... and as we all know, there is no greater leveller than mother nature. It was an amazing idea and a great start to the day, but Joels day of surfing ended early as he’d smashed up his back.

We decided to go and have a drink and a chat after. Joel, through gritted teeth, was explaining that he was not so happy with his current work and Andy was very concerned about no longer even having a permanent job.

We were spitballing ideas about starting something new and exciting and came up with the idea for a surf and lifestyle brand. Andy decided to go away and do some design thinking and a naming exercise. He thought about their friendship, backgrounds and shared beliefs. Joel is genuinely Cornish and can trace his Cornish family back for countless generations, and Andy, living in the south west, spent a lot of time and endless holidays in Cornwall.

Andy started to look into the old Cornish language and stumbled across the word Kosin, which is actually an old Cornish word that means ‘Good Friend’. It perfectly describes them, having known each other for over 20 years, and also refers to the relationship surfers have with the ocean. The designs and the ideas went back and forth between the two of them for months, and the brand Kosin was born.

Since then we haven't looked back and have organically grown a successful brand, made two epic short films, and have met some of the most amazing people along the way. In the summer of 2022, after only 15 months since we had launched, we were trading at Boardmasters in Newquay. What a Journey of Discovery this has been so far.

Thanks to everyone that has been part of our journey, and may it just be the start of amazing things to come.

Andy and Joel - Kosin

The Kosin Community

Imagine Kosin as the crackling bonfire on the beach with plenty of space for people to gather round, socialise and share stories of surf, travel, discoveries and common interests. Our aim is to engage with people of similar interests, creating a community of like minded individuals and sharing our stories together. Whether it’s chasing the swell for a week or simply gathering around a camp fire with the family.  We want to share what we are passionate about. We hope that this will resonate with others and in turn will inspire them to do the same and bring people together.

The Desire to Roam

There is an innate sense of adventure within us all, to escape, to wander, and to connect with both people and nature. We all feel our best when we’re outside, whether it be near the ocean, a lake, a river, on a mountain, or simply strolling through the countryside. Very much like the tide itself, we are often drawn back to the coast, to re-connect with the ocean and feel the energy of the nature that surrounds us.  The ocean is a place that allows us to simply let go. It brings a sense of peace and tranquillity to the soul. The sound of the waves upon the beach, the salty breeze in the air and the motion of the water in the swell. We sit on our boards staring at a point on the distant horizon waiting for the next big wave. It’s at this point that there is a sudden realisation of insignificance when it comes to mother nature. It is a powerful beast that has to be respected and cannot ever be tamed.

Escape into Nature

The great outdoors, and specifically the ocean, are vehicles for positive escapism. We believe that the time spent disconnecting from the stresses of our every day lives and re-connecting with nature is vital for our physical and mental health.