Happy 20th birthday to Kowtow, the Wellington-founded label that has upheld its ethical, sustainable vision for two decades.
A firm commitment to doing right by cotton growers, suppliers, staff and those who wear its garments means the label has garnered an incredibly loyal following.
Kowtow started simply, with founder Gosia Piatek seeking to know more about where clothing comes from, and where it goes to. With a business brain and a necessary product (clothing) in mind, she sought to reshape how fashion is created, using fairtrade organic cotton.
“I wanted to do something where people were getting rewarded fairly for what they do,” she told us back in 2019. “The more I got into it, I released that ethics and sustainability go hand-in-hand.”
The label started with simple cotton tees, and now extends to fully-fledged men’s and womenswear collections.
Over time, the brand also expanded its conscious creation to ensure all garments are now completely plastic-free. Getting rid of elements like buttons, elastic and thread made, or partially made, with plastic is part of an ongoing process that continually questions the way things have ‘always been done.’
To mark its 20th birthday, Kowtow is looking back at those guiding ethics, celebrating its progress and asking what more can be done. A book, The Unmaking Of, is not just about the journey so far, but about the realities of textile waste, climate change and how to be part of the solution.
There’s also a selection of special designs now available that celebrate the milestone. The highlight is a limited-edition 20th anniversary collection fabric print by multi-disciplinary French artist and Kowtow’s first Art Director, Yoan Jolly. The graphic design with a hand-drawn feel has been developed by layering an archive of iconic Kowtow artwork.
The collection is now available and The Unmaking Of is released on Thursday the 6th of August.
