Peri Drysdale

Perilyn Drysdale (née Richards, born 18 March 1953) is a New Zealand entrepreneur and business owner. She is the founder and CEO of the fashion companies "Snowy Peak" and "Untouched World", which produce ecologically sustainable clothing, and the founder of the Untouched World Foundation, which runs programmes in sustainable leadership.

Early life and family Born in Christchurch on 18 March 1953, She was educated at Craighead Diocesan School in Timaru and St. Margaret's College in Christchurch. She went on to train as a nurse, specialising in cardiology. She gave up nursing in 1979.

Business career While her children were young, Drysdale decided to start a home-based garment manufacturing business. She called it "Snowy Peak" and employed outworkers to knit luxury clothes such as jumpers, hats, scarves and gloves for supply to a few Christchurch stores. She started with 10 outworkers, and by 1985, after four years operation, she had 500 working for her.

Drysdale experimented with certified organic, eco-friendly wools and cottons. In 1996 she launched the world's first yarn that blended possum fur with merino wool, calling the new yarn "merinomink". She also began to export her clothes to Australia, Europe, Japan and Canada, expanded operations in Christchurch with a cafe and retail store, and opened stores in Auckland and Queenstown.

In 1999 the brand received international attention when it was chosen to provide garments for world leaders attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum in Auckland. President Bill Clinton particularly admired his sweater, and he and his family became fans and customers.

In 2014, Drysdale began using a second new textile which she calls "kapua" - a mixture of cashmere, silk and possum - which had been in development since 2000. One percent of the retail sales from Untouched World contribute to the foundation. After several years' work the island achieved predator-free status and kiwi were released there in 2010.

Recognition 1993 – appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire in the 1993 New Year Honours, for services to manufacturing and export 1999 – included in list of 100 New Zealanders who have made the most significant contribution to the economy. 2020 – inducted into the New Zealand Business Hall of Fame