Looks from Kowtow’s latest collection
Inspirational New Zealand label Kowtow is on a mission. It’s publicly putting its Sustainability Strategy on the line, including sharing its next three years of goals around innovating and leading in circularity, and its journey to 0% plastic by 2023.
The move is part of a decision to end the year on a high note with Positive Impact – a campaign to launch its summer collection and which also incorporated releasing its Sustainability Strategy to the public for the first time.
The pioneering brand worked alongside their community to create this strategy, aligned with the fact that having a positive impact on people and the planet is central to Kowtow and has been the brand’s driving force since its beginning 16 years ago.
Developing and publicising its Sustainability Strategy is a massive milestone and guarantees Kowtow’s ongoing commitment to integrity and transparency.
Also this season, Kowtow will break down what it means to make a ‘Positive Impact’ by encouraging customers to be part of their free repair programme, in-store mending workshop, and by sharing care guides to help extend the life of Kowtow garments.
“The entire reason why I started Kowtow was to create a positive impact for people, through our Fairtrade certification, and the environment by using only organic cotton. We are here to disrupt the industry!,” says Kowtow founder Gosia Piatek. “Not only the clothing industry but also how businesses, in general, can be run differently.
“Publishing our Sustainability Strategy means we are asking everyone in our community to keep us accountable as a business to constantly evolve. To break the clunky norms of the current world and consider the entire lifecycle of our product.
“When you have a business that makes a product, no matter how sustainable it is, it creates an impact. I want Kowtow to be responsible for that impact and ensure it is positive. We are committed to making clothing that is 0% plastic, natural, carbon positive and circular.”
Using fashion as a vehicle for a bigger goal, Kowtow’s last collection of the year, now available online and in-store, celebrates its determination and optimism.
The Positive Impact collection is punctuated by sculptural cut-out dresses, textured knits, and in-house designed prints made entirely with 100% certified Fairtrade organic cotton.
Kowtow explores the versatility of this natural, single fibre, demonstrating its luxurious hand feel yet ease and functionality. Even the trims are made using only natural, renewable and recyclable materials, from nickel-free tacks to recycled shell buttons.
This season’s colour palette offers playful silhouettes in crispy poplin in a bold sunny yellow and digitally-printed cloudy blue sky. As summer temperatures heat up, light voile offers airy comfort in green checks and timeless whites.
Combining aesthetics with practicality, Kowtow also presents a range of accessories – a forest denim hat, a padded tote bag in cloud print, and a green check scarf.
The label became B-Corp certified in May 2022 and is working on a special collaboration with another B-Corp brand, soon to be revealed.
Images supplied