Wellington-based label Kowtow has taken a massive step towards becoming more environmentally friendly with its new plastic-free clothing line. Although Kowtow consistently made strides towards being more conscious and transparent about its clothing production, this is the largest step they have taken in becoming waste-free.
The Kowtow Nature As Home collection features a range of styles inspired by the environment around us. The styles range in colour and texture, with army green, yellow and pink making significant appearances. The fit of the clothing tends to be loose and free, to emanate that natural feeling humans get when they reconnect with nature. Models effortlessly show off a variety of styles in lush green surroundings, emphasising a down-to-earth energy.
“When the team was concepting for this shoot, they overwhelmingly felt that it needed to be captured in our own backyard,” explained Piatek. “The surroundings that inspire the team everyday.”
The fashion industry is known for its high carbon emissions and excessive wastage of materials and water, especially with the rise of fast fashion brands. Kowtow, the innovative and future-forward New Zealand business, has identified its struggles with using plastic in garments. Kowtow has decided to switch its new materials and phase out old ones that no longer align with its ethics.
“Like our recycled nylon swimwear that was made from regenerated nylon fishing nets from the Mediterranean then made into a yarn and fabric,” said Piatek. “It then had to be mixed with lycra, and there isn’t any technology to separate out these two fibres at the end of the product life, so we had to say goodbye to that offering.”
Kowtow aims to engage consumers with the Nature As Home line, proving to the fashion industry that fashion can be both sustainable and modern. The plastic-free incentive has begun to catch on in New Zealand, with significant steps being taken to minimise waste, such as the ban on the distribution of single-use plastic bags in July 2023.
Alongside this collection, Kowtow released an open-source handbook to help inspire young business owners to make more of a step towards minimising their carbon footprint.
“In the plastic-free handbook, we’ve taken each trim that we use and broken down where we get it from,” she added. “I think it was a really brave move, and it’s a move to say, hey, you know, we’re here. We’re confident in what we do.”
In addition to the plastic-free collection, Kowtow has also implemented a take-back program, where past customers can return their Kowtow garments at the end of their usable life. If returned, the mono-fibre that Kowtow used to grate these garments will become part of the research and development phase and how they can return them to earth.
One of the inspirations to become plastic-free was when Kowtow’s owner watched a David Attenborough documentary where he spoke uncharacteristically negatively about the state of the world, supporting the idea that high carbon emissions and plastic waste have irreversibly damaged the world.
