Untouched World NZ Fashion Week Debut | Myths of Fast Fashion Debunked

REVIEW | ARTS | HANGA / CRAFT

Written by Sanskruti Banerjee (she/her) | @san._.banerjee | Contributing Writer

“Inspired by Europe’s design capitals and grounded in a 30-year legacy, Untouched World’s debut at New Zealand Fashion Week explored the enduring dialogue between architectural form and the organic textures of the natural world.” - Untouched World website 

I was honoured to be invited by clothing brand, Untouched World, as a guest to their debut show at NZFW 2025, Woven Together By Nature. Untouched World was the first fashion company in the world to be recognised by the United Nations for its commitment to sustainability. With a focus on high-quality fabrics - particularly wool, in true Kiwi fashion - this brand is all about the dualities that exist between comfort and class. Being intertwined with nature, Untouched World’s eco-friendly commitments provide an air of authenticity and intention toward fulfilling brand values. 

In conversations with the Untouched World team at their events, it is clear they consistently identify problemsthe fast fashion industry, which encompasses toxin releases, the consequences of microfibres and an industry-wide lack of sustainability, the brand’s birth as “a vehicle for change.” This is achieved through multiple mechanisms within the clothes themselves, such as being microplastic-free and made with organically produced cottons, merino and wool. There are also aspects included for the comfort of the weather, such as temperature regulation and moisture management within the fabrics themselves. All this ensures that the products make both you and the earth feel good.

Situated in the centre of the industrial warehouse space SHED 10, the juxtaposition of nature-inspired textures against exposed beams and concrete floors told its own story of coexistence, contrast, and conscious design. Untouched World’s debut was the epitome of elegance, subdued natural hues and speckles of nature in every look. Models floated down the runway in fluid silhouettes, with billowing sleeves, rimmed hats, long skirts, and scarves draped with intention. There was a grace in the garments and an integrity in their construction, a balance between structure and softness. This collection made the clothes feel like a warm cup of coffee on an autumn morning. A direct solution and clear strategy to combat the myth that stepping away from fast fashion is too “out of reach.”

Each look incorporated subtle floral elements, flowers tucked into hair, pinned to lapels or woven into accessories, which added an organic punctuation to an otherwise understated palette of powder blues, soft mint greens, oatmeals, and creams. The music was bold yet held poise, a showcase of the collection’s celebration of nature, one that is woven into every thread. The runway itself acted as an echo of nature’s quiet strength. The lighting was soft and minimal, drawing full attention to the clothes and the slow, purposeful steps of the models. The crowd was attentive and clearly moved. 

We live in a world that is hungry for changemaking and a generation that draws a particular consciousness towards sustainability. Untouched World’s debut served as a gentle but powerful reminder that the future of fashion can be beautiful and luxurious without being wasteful and damaging to the earth.