The Saint Jacques Scallop

ABOUT THE SCALLOP SHELL

Since prehistoric times, it has been a religious symbol, an ornament and a currency all at once.

Its French name comes from the days when pilgrims walking to Santiago de Compostela, a major medieval pilgrimage site in Spain, used empty shells to beg, drink or eat.

The scallop is found across Europe, in the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic. It's concentrated along the French and Spanish coasts, and fished from October to April.

We're counting on you to wish us a happy "Saint Jacques" day on 25 July.

WHY SAINT JACQUES WETSUITS?

We chose the name Saint Jacques Wetsuits because it carries three elements that are essential to our brand concept:

• THE SEA

As people who love riding and the nature around us, keeping that connection in our brand name was essential. Nature, and the sea and oceans in particular, are our playground. An environment worth protecting, through action, so we can keep enjoying it. At Saint Jacques we've already put several initiatives in place for the environment. Discover our commitments.

And shells aren't just on our logo: the bio-based foam of our Clovis Bio contains oyster shell powder, which replaces quarried limestone. We explain it all in our article on bio-based natural rubber foam.

• FRANCE

We're proud and happy to represent our country, France. Every stage (outside production) happens in our offices near Montpellier. From product design to shipping your orders, including customer service, we handle everything in our local company. And our tricolour flag remains our best source of inspiration for wetsuit design.

• A HIGH-END FEEL, starting with the materials we choose.

We develop our products with elegance in mind, but also with technique and quality. That's why we make a point of choosing the best materials to build the best wetsuits.

THE SPIRITUAL SIDE OF THE SCALLOP SHELL

As early as antiquity, the scallop shell was used to protect people from witchcraft and disease. Through legend, it became the attribute of the apostle Saint James.

On their way back from the apostle's tomb, pilgrims pinned scallop shells to their capes in his honour, as a symbol of their long journey.

Its shape is said to carry a natural wave, which is why it was chosen as a stoup in many churches. That particular wave is believed to charge holy water positively, so it stays "pure".

On a far simpler note, the scallop is also an exceptional dish you can enjoy raw or cooked. Beyond being delicious, it's packed with vitamin B12 and selenium, minerals that support a healthy metabolism. It's one of the few foods with that much of them, so there's no reason to go without.