As we near the end of 2025, we've found ourselves looking back with full hearts and deep gratitude. It's been a year bursting with connection, reflection, and some truly beautiful momentum, both for Untouched World and the wider community that inspires everything we do.
So before we press pause for the holidays (and gear up for what's next), we wanted to take a moment to share some highlights from the journey we’ve taken together this year.
January – Celebrating 30 years of timeless design
We kicked off the year with a milestone worth celebrating - 30 years of Untouched World.
To mark the occasion, we invited you to send in your oldest Untouched World pieces, and you absolutely delivered. From garments crafted in our earliest days to well-worn favourites still going strong, each piece told a story of care, quality and longevity.
Many were in beautiful condition, a quiet reminder of what’s possible when sustainability and craftsmanship work hand-in-hand.
March – Bold steps and shared voices
March was a month of action and collaboration. We took part in B Corp Month by welcoming fellow B Corps into our stores to showcase the impact and quality you’re supporting when you shop with purpose.
We also marked International Women’s Day by honouring three incredible wāhine working at the forefront of sustainability. We dressed them in our favourite pieces and shared their stories. If you missed it, you can read more in our Journal entry.
We wrapped the month with the launch of our AW25 collection, captured against the wild and breathtaking backdrop of Flockhill Station, a setting that beautifully echoed the strength of the season.
April & May – Recognition and impact
We were incredibly honoured to be named Fashion Business of the Year by UK-based Positive Luxury in April. Recognition like this reminds us that our mahi isn’t just reaching local hearts, but resonating across the globe.
In May, we received our updated B Corp score: 107.3, up from 83.5, a significant leap and a reflection of our ongoing commitment to pushing sustainable boundaries. Every number in that score is the result of intentional decisions by our team, and we’re so proud to see that pursuit acknowledged.
June – Supporting the next generation
Having received the Mindful Fashion Circular Business Award ourselves, sponsoring it this year felt full circle. By backing this initiative, we’re standing with the next wave of kiwi changemakers, designers, producers and business leaders who are transforming the fashion and textile industries in Aotearoa.
July – A very special birthday
With the scent of winter in the air and our flagship store buzzing, we celebrated our 30th birthday in style. Local legend and chef Giulio Sturla of Mapu crafted a seasonal feast, filling the air with warmth and the tables with love.
It was the perfect moment to debut our Heritage collection, featuring three timeless styles inspired by the pieces you sent in and reimagined from our archives. Each was hand-numbered, released in an intimate, limited run. You can still find a few piecies if you missed out.
August – Designing forward with purpose
In August, a new chapter unfolded. We unveiled our SS25 collection at New Zealand Fashion Week, the first to be guided by our new creative team. It was vibrant, visionary, and rooted in everything we believe in. You can take a peek behind the scenes and learn how Dan Ahwa styled it all in this journal entry, or watch the show itself on our YouTube channel.
We also brought home the Sustainability Initiative of the Year award from the Fashion Quarterly Awards, another beautiful reminder of what’s possible when we lead with values.
November – Our community on the catwalk
As the year drew to a close, the energy didn’t fade. The Christchurch Spring Fashion Festival brought some of Aotearoa’s finest brands together to celebrate creativity right in our hometown.
It was a joy to be part of this celebration, surrounded by familiar faces, fresh ideas and a shared hope for what fashion can be when it honours both people and planet.
Whether you've been with us for years, or just discovered us in 2025, thank you.
None of this would be possible without this thoughtful, curious, and conscious community. Your loyalty, your stories, your kindness… they shape our choices, our collections, and our greater mission.
As we close the chapter on this meaningful year, we hope you'll take some time to pause, reflect, and rest too. Here's to a new year filled with intention, creativity and, as always, the things that truly last.
With aroha, The Untouched World Team
