Untouched World, a Kiwi lifestyle brand, has won the ‘Fashion Business of the Year’ award from Positive Luxury for its commitment to sustainability, responsible procurement, and social impact.
- One of the first fashion companies to be recognised by the United Nations for sustainability, New Zealand-based Untouched World was borne out of the need to rid the pristine environment of toxins that leach from human wears. It finds its whole philosophy summarised in a symbol representing a Māori Kite, the emblem of an ideal relationship between people and nature; it links the earth to the sky, symbolising a soaring freedom of the spirit.
- The brand celebrates living in harmony with nature. It prioritises quality over quantity, is passionate about driving behaviour change to create a better world for future generations.
Positive Luxury, home of the Butterfly Mark, and a certification recognising luxury brands demonstrating real change and positive impact on planet and society, awards a diverse range of industries, from fashion to travel, who are driving meaningful change, showcasing innovation, and setting new standards for sustainability and responsible business practices.
- Always setting new standards and creating new norms – luxury can drive real change for people and nature. The Positive Luxury Awards celebrate innovation, real change and higher standards across the supply chain – the brands, retailers or suppliers at the forefront of innovation taking serious, positive action.
- Judged by an independent panel that represents a cross-section of experts including academics, thought-leaders and industry executives, the awards are an opportunity for organisations to be celebrated for showing what is possible, recognised for their innovation and rewarded for sustainability leadership in the luxury industry. By celebrating those raising the bar, we inspire others to meet higher standards.
- The judges were looking for brands that demonstrate innovation, real change and higher standards. From initiatives, actions and positive impact showcasing innovation linked to materiality drivers on climate, nature and water (environment), to how workers and communities are treated (social), to how responsibly and ethically businesses are run (governance).
WHAT THEY SAID:
Untouched World embodies the very essence of sustainability, ensuring visibility across all levels of its supply chain and reinvesting profits in social initiatives. From ensuring visibility across tiers 1, 2 and 3 of its supply chain, responsible procurement processes and profits reinvested in social initiatives, it is clear this family business headquartered in New Zealand is setting a new standard for the fashion industry. This award is testament to their leadership in driving meaningful change.
— Amy Nelson Bennett
Chief Executive Officer
Positive Luxury
Untouched World has clearly embedded positive business practices at its core since its inception - helping them both create value and impact simultaneously. Two key standouts for me are firstly that 70% of their fibres already come from regenerative farming practices and secondly, their commitment to open, trusted supplier relationships - including transparent discussions on how pricing impacts wages and working conditions across the supply chain. They are one to watch.
— Tom Berry
Independent Advisor / Former CSO
Innocent Drinks, Farfetch, British Fashion Council
Untouched World serves as a lighthouse case for building successful, long term business with Sustainability NOT as a priority, but as the foundation informing every decision. Specifically in this day and age, Untouched World is an outstanding reminder that responsible business conduct across environmental and social footprint is to be a constant, long term and unwavering value paired with action. The world needs more 'Untouched World's'.”
— David Quass
Senior Director, Sustainability
VF Corp
I selected Untouched World simply because it is the best example I have seen of what it would look like to build an authentically sustainable fashion brand from Day One. So much of the good work we see today is, in reality, an effort to remediate past mistakes -- and this is worth doing, of course. But with Untouched World, we were able to study a business, founded with a purist vision, that has been unaltered and undiluted through stages of growth. It is a model that should be studied and replicated.”
— James Schaffer
Chief Strategy Officer
Worldly
