Oxford’s Y.O.U. Underwear wins Best Start Up Enterprise Global Good Award

Published by

Sam Pither

Credit: Ingrid Weel Photography

An Oxford-based underwear start up has been recognised for their fresh thinking at the 2022 Global Good Awards.

Y.O.U Underwear, which makes Fairtrade, PETA-approved underwear for women, men and girls, won the Best Start Up Enterprise Awards at the event, which celebrates organisations setting strong environmental and social standards.

Any business or start-up with a purpose driven product or a service which considers innovation and leadership holistically can enter the awards. Y.O.U. were recognised for being the top scoring B Corp in the UK along due to their ethical and sustainability standards.

One of the ways Y.O.U. displays these standards is through its ‘Changing the World One Pair of Pants at a Time’ initiative, which features a buy-on-give-two promise - for every pair of Y.O.U. underwear bought, the firm donates two pairs to vulnerable women and children across Africa and the UK.

It also works with one of the leading ethical and sustainable manufacturers in India to ensure fair treatment of employees and positive environmental impact within its supply chain.

The Global Good Awards’ judges said: “Y.O.U. Underwear is a great example of a start-up bringing fresh thinking to the table to help tackle global issues and be a force for good.

“We were looking for a range of factors in this category, from the enterprise’s goals and ethos to environmentally friendly business practices and employee and supply chain wellbeing.

“With their high B Corp score in the UK and status as the top fashion B Corp globally, Y.O.U. Underwear was the clear front runner.”

Rowdy Kind, a Guildford-based company which makes plastic-free body care products for kids, took the silver award, while Wiltshire Digital Drive won Bronze for their #DonateYour Digital initiative that refurbishes and donates used laptops.

Featured image credit: Global Good Awards/Ingrid Weel Photography

Sam Pither

Sam is the Regional Editor of Biz News, responsible for both Hampshire and Dorset. A new recruit to journalism, Sam started writing for the Business Magazine as a freelancer in May of 2022 after completing his degree in English at University College London. His passion for local businesses and ability to tell a story soon caught the attention of the publication’s management team and have led to his meteoric rise. Sam, who lives in central Reading, takes a particular interest in technology, gaming and food and drink, having been a chef before starting his degree.