Untouched World founder and CEO Peri Drysdale. Image supplied.
Untouched World have won many accolades for their commitment to sustainability and environmentally conscious practices since launching in 1998, and now the business can claim another fantastic achievement. International fashion industry network Common Objective recently announced the CO10 Awards, which recognises only ten businesses across the globe who demonstrate excellence in sustainable fashion business, and they have named Untouched World in that ten amongst the world’s best.
Untouched World was launched by CEO Peri Drysdale, who was interested in environmentally friendly fashion and was doing things ethically long before it was popular, facing a lot of challenges to do things that way in the beginning. Now, doing things in better ways to protect our planet has become more commonplace and Peri is proud of the way the industry itself is changing.
“Having a positive impact on our planet is at the heart of Untouched World, it always has been,” says Peri Drysdale. “When we look at the other winners, and finalists, we can see that sustainability in the fashion industry is finally shifting from tactics to table stakes, which is fantastic news for both people and the planet.”
A massive 50,000 members are part of Common Objective globally which means the competition takes place on an immense playing field. Organisations must be in the fashion industry, but can be of any size, and in any location which means a lot or variations in how things are done. Untouched World’s position in the top ten puts it alongside celebrated international brands, including Eileen Fisher and Komodo, having beaten out shortlisted industry stalwarts like Ted Baker and Gucci’s parent company, Kering.
The competition itself is judged first by an internal Awards team, then the shortlist is reviewed by an external judging panel, comprised of some of fashion’s biggest names: British GQ Editor Dylan Jones, British Fashion Council Chief Executive Caroline Rush and Vivienne Westwood’s Head of Couture, Brigitte Stepputtis are among the industry leaders who deliberated the top ten.
Untouched World was described by the panel of judges as ‘a pioneer in best practice’ and it is the brand’s intrinsic commitment to sustainability that has been part of the organisation since the beginning that shone through. Untouched World was founded on a belief in natural fibres and fabrics that are easy on the earth, and a business model that leaves nothing behind, this latest recognition reinforces the brand’s position as a leader in sustainable fashion practice and a company that many other businesses can learn valuable lessons from.
Images supplied.