Untouched World opening in Wellington

19 March 2007

Top NZ lifestyle brand Untouched World opening in Wellington next week

Untouched World, one of New Zealand’s leading luxury lifestyle brands and a world innovator in eco-fashion will open their fifth retail store next week in Wellington.

Prime Minister Helen Clark will open the store and celebrity sports stars Silver Ferns captain Adine Wilson will be modelling on the catwalk at the official opening on March 27.

The new Wellington store on the corner of Featherstone and Brandon Streets opens to the public the next day.

Untouched World, winner of the 2006 Auckland Top Shop innovative retailer of the year award, uses natural fibres, predominantly certified organic merino and certified organic cottons in its collections along with recycled cotton buttons and recycled interlinings.

Untouched World managing director Peri Drysdale said today she had been looking for the right space in the right location, convenient to Wellington customers for more than two years.

``We’re just excited that we are finally able to give our loyal Wellington customers easy access to our collections. We already have a lot of Wellington customers on our database who shop at our other stores.

``They wanted us in Wellington so much they even sent us suggestions when they saw shop space coming up for lease,’’ she said.

Drysdale was named 2006 New Zealand of the Year in North and South magazine and she is a former South Island businesswoman of the year.

She heads overseas next week for Untouched World’s catwalk in the Singapore Eco-Fashion Show, a new addition to the annual Singapore Fashion Festival. Untouched World is one of only four international labels invited to take part in the eco-luxe event, which has been inspired by the Future Fashion Eco Show, part of 2006 New York Fashion Week.

The other eco-friendly designers involved in the exclusive show are Linda Loudermilk of USA, CIEL from the UK and Katelyn Asslett from Australia.

Emily Drysdale is the company’s award winning international designer. Emily spoke with Kerri-Anne Kennerley on Australian national television this week about Untouched World’s sustainable, recycled and organic products.

The UW brand has the backing of celebrity style guru Cameron Silver, who is ranked one of the 25 most influential names and faces in fashion in the world, according to Time Magazine.

``I really think Untouched World is on to something quite extraordinary and the fabrics are so exceptional,’’ Silver said.

``Untouched World has great global potential to be the definitive modern luxury casual brand for the active and conscious globetrotter.’’

Fans of the brand include Bill Clinton who regularly buys Untouched World clothing when he visits New Zealand after discovering the label during the 1999 APEC leaders meeting.

Peri Drysdale received a handwritten note from Felicity Huffman (Desperate Housewives) expressing her delight in the Untouched World garment she received as part of her prize package for winning Best Actress at the 2006 Golden Globes, and mentioning that she wears it to the Desperate Housewives set every day.

Reese Witherspoon, Joaquin Phoenix, George Clooney, Michael Keaton, Tom Hanks, Bill Clinton, Naomi Watts, Denzil Washington, Keifer Sutherland, Anthony Hopkins and Tom Cruise are other celebrities who wear Untouched World gear.

Untouched World has two stores in Christchurch, one in Auckland and one in Queenstown.

Their brand is an ethical lifestyle fashion brand based on the New Zealand lifestyle that grew out of the desire to create a positive, sustainable future.

ENDS

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