Untouched World, a New Zealand fashion label with 30 years of history, creates clothing for both men and women, focusing on quality craftsmanship and sustainability.
In 2024, Untouched World successfully diverted 99% of its textile waste from landfill by recycling it into new products such as hats, scarves, and its acclaimed Rubbish Socks. These socks are crafted from recycled knit waste blended with 50 percent virgin merino fibre, using a process that is entirely water- and dye-free.
Some of Untouched World’s remaining textile waste is sent to recyclers to be transformed into insulation materials.
A portion is repurposed by Impactex into promotional signage, which is used in Untouched World stores located in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Wānaka.
“Our work around reducing waste has been a huge focus for us over the last couple of years. A large part of this has been around textile waste reduction,” says Development Manager Fiona Bretherton.
“Our goal is zero textile waste by the end of 2025.”
According to Fiona, 94% of Untouched World’s garments are manufactured locally in Christchurch, with the remaining production taking place in Vietnam.
“By making most of our clothes here and sourcing many of our fibres locally too, we reject the disconnected nature of fast fashion and reduce our footprint.”
Beyond textiles, the brand’s commitment to sustainability permeates every aspect of its business.
“We look at every aspect of our business with sustainability in mind. That means considering the total life impact of what we produce, from the sustainably grown fibres we use, right through to how our team dispose of their banana skins after lunch.”
The company’s Environmental data is monitored using a platform called Sustainability 360. Each month, they record their water, energy, and gas consumption, as well as any waste generated.
“We then collate and analyse the data, to see where we’re reaching our targets, and where we could be doing better.”
Untouched World’s dedication to sustainability has made it the first and only fashion label in the world to be recognised by the United Nations for its sustainable practices.