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Carry Somers

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Carry Somers
Somers in 2017
Born1966 (age 57–58)
Seaton, Devon, England
EducationColyton Grammar School, Westminster College Oxford, University of Southampton, University of Essex
Occupation(s)Fashion designer, campaigner
Known forFashion Revolution, Pachacuti

Carry Somers (born 1966) is a British fashion designer, social entrepreneur and campaigner. She is founder of Fashion Revolution and was previously founder and director of Pachacuti.

Background

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Somers was born in Seaton, Devon in 1966 and attended Colyton Grammar School. She has a degree in Languages and European Studies from Southampton University, and a Masters in Native American Studies Studies from the University of Essex[1] which presented her with the alumnus of the year award in 2009.[2][3] Somers set up fair trade fashion brand Pachacuti in 1992 and founded Fashion Revolution in 2013.[4][5][6] In July 2022, Somers was awarded an honorary doctorate by Keele University.[7]

Career

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Fashion Revolution

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Somers is founder of Fashion Revolution, a global movement which arose from the Rana Plaza garment factory disaster in Bangladesh on 24 April 2013.[8][9] Fashion Revolution is the world's largest fashion activism movement campaigning for systemic reform of the fashion industry with a focus on supply chain transparency.[10]

Somers organised roundtable debates at the House of Commons and the House of Lords on ethics, sustainability and transparency in the fashion supply chain including Ethical Fashion 2020:a New Vision for Transparency [11] in June 2015 and Fashion Question Time annually from 2015 to 2018 in UK Parliament and in 2019 at the V&A.[12] Somers speaks nationally [13][14] and internationally [15][16][17][18] about transparency, human rights and environmental issues in the fashion supply chain.

In 2020, Somers sailed 2000 miles from the Galapagos Islands to Easter Island and the South Pacific Gyre with eXXpedition,[19] an all-female round-the-world sailing voyage carrying out scientific research into the impact of plastic and toxic pollution in the ocean.[18]

In February 2022, Somers was nominated for a billboard campaign during New York Fashion Week highlighting women-led social enterprises in the fashion industry which are driving social and environmental impact, appearing on the Nasdaq billboard in Times Square and outside the United Nations.[20]

Somers worked with garden designer Lottie Delamain on a Textile Garden for Fashion Revolution which won a silver gilt medal at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in May 2022.[21]

Pachacuti

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Somers founded fair trade hat brand Pachacuti in 1992.[22] Pachacuti was the first company to be verified under the World Fair Trade Organization Sustainable Fair Trade Management System,[23][24] the first International certification of a fair trade, sustainable production process.[25] The WFTO Verification system guarantees practices, procedures and processes that demonstrate social, economic and environmental responsibility throughout the supply chain".[26] Pachacuti's products were labelled Verified Fair Trade by WFTO UK0001-2009 to 2012.[27][28]

Pachacuti piloted the European Union Geo Fair Trade project from 2009–12[29] which traced products from the straw to the Panama hat weavers. 60 social, economic, geolocalisation and environmental indicators tracked annual changes. The pilot project mapped the GPS co-ordinates of Pachacuti's 154 weavers' houses in Ecuador, the parcels of land where the Carludovica Palmata grows, and the co-ordinates of the associations who harvest and process the straw.[30][31]

At London Fashion Week in September 2013, People Tree Ltd. and Pachacuti were the first companies in the world to launch the WFTO Fair Trade Guarantee System label.[32]

Press

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Somers appears regularly on television and radio in the UK and overseas.[33][34] She has been a regular guest on BBC World Business News,[35] BBC Breakfast[36] and national and international radio.[37][38][39] Press articles and interviews include: Forbes How Two Entrepreneurs Became Unexpected Activists And Started A Fashion Revolution[40] Telegraph She Wears It well[41] El País[42] Vogue,[43] Newsweek How the Rana Plaza Disaster Changed Fashion Forever [44] and the Financial Times How to Spend It.[45]

Lectures and Presentations

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Somers is a regular speaker at universities, events and conferences, both nationally [46][31][47] and internationally [48][49] on Fashion Revolution, fair trade, entrepreneurship, sustainability and fashion. She has lectured on cruise ships in Latin America and the Caribbean on textiles, traditional dress, artisan handicrafts, indigenous peoples and fair trade.

Publications

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2024: A Dictionary of Plant Fibre and Colour, with research from Somers' Churchill Fellowship.[50]

2015: Somers wrote the introduction to "Fixing Fashion" which looks at the impacts of consumer culture's addiction to disposable fashion, published by New Society.

2014: Co-authored "Working Ethically", which aims to help business owners find an ethical strategy which will benefit their suppliers, community and environment.[51] She contributed to the book, published in 2014, "Sustainable Luxury and Social Entrepreneurship".[52]

Business accomplishments

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  • 2023 Churchill Fellow [50]
  • 2022 Doctor of Letters honoris causa, Keele University, Staffordshire, UK in recognition of outstanding contribution to fair trade and leadership in advocacy for and recognition of sustainable practices in labour, trade and production in the global fashion industry.
  • 2022 Honoree Conscious Fashion Campaign, New York [53]
  • 2020 Winner Luxury Sustainability Award at the Luxury Law Awards [54]
  • 2019 Named as one of 8 inspiring sustainable icons revolutionising fashion[55]
  • 2016 Named one of London's most influential people in the Equality Champions category of the Progress 1000 Awards, alongside David Beckham, Duchess of Cornwall, Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Stephen Fry and Richard Gere.[56]
  • 2013 Winner of Outstanding Contribution to Sustainable Fashion at Source Awards, House of Lords[57]
  • 2011 Winner – Best Practice in Sustainable Luxury in Latin America,] Fashion & Accessories[58]
  • 2011 Winner – Observer Ethical Award category 'Fashion & Accessories'[59]
  • 2011 Big Tick Award & 'Highly Commended' – Small Company of the Year category, National Awards for Excellence[60]
  • 2009 The University of Essex named Somers Alumnus of the Year 2009.[2]
  • 2008 Winner of The Hat Life Magazine Hatty Award for significant contribution to the headwear industry.[61]
  • 2007 Invited to meet the Queen at Buckingham Palace on 14 February in "recognition of her significant contribution to UK business".
  • 2007 Winner of the FSB British Small Business Champions Ethical Award; interviewed on BBC Radio 4s Woman's Hour[62]
  • 2006 Winner of the award for the best growing business in the Country Living Enterprising Rural Women Award which recognises excellence in rural-based businesses.[63]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Essex chancellor launches Women of the Future Appeal - Business Weekly - Technology News - Business news - Cambridge and the East of England". www.businessweekly.co.uk.
  2. ^ a b "Alumnus of the Year Award - Honorary Graduates - University of Essex". www.essex.ac.uk.
  3. ^ "Alumni list". alumni.essex.ac.uk.
  4. ^ Blanchard, Tamsin (24 April 2018). "Fashion Revolution Week: Seven ways to get involved". The Guardian.
  5. ^ "Meet fashion's sustainable stars transforming the way we dress". 17 April 2019.
  6. ^ "Who Are the Women Leading Fashion's Sustainable Revolution?". 20 April 2020.
  7. ^ "Keele announces honorary graduates". 23 June 2022.
  8. ^ Butterly, Amelia (24 April 2015). "People are wearing clothes inside out to mark Fashion Revolution Day - BBC Newsbeat". BBC News.
  9. ^ Sharkey, Linda (24 April 2015). "Fashion Revolution Day: wear your clothes inside out and ask #whomademyclothes to support worker welfare". The Independent. London.
  10. ^ "Who Made My Clothes? Stand up for workers' rights with Fashion Revolution Week | Tamsin Blanchard". TheGuardian.com. 22 April 2019.
  11. ^ "Ethical Fashion 2020: a New Vision for Transparency - Total Politics". 1 July 2015.
  12. ^ Ferrier, Morwenna (23 April 2018). "Labour MP Rushanara Ali: 'Rana Plaza was a man-made disaster'". The Guardian.
  13. ^ Exeter, University of. "University of Exeter". lifesciences.exeter.ac.uk.
  14. ^ "The Future of Sustainable Fashion". talks.ox.ac.uk. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  15. ^ "Ireland gives two thumbs up for development as The European Year for Development Launch Ceremony in Dublin Castle scoops two awards - Dochas". www.dochas.ie.
  16. ^ "Trade show preview: Bangladesh Denim Expo plugs transparency for its next edition". www.the-spin-off.com. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  17. ^ "Carry Somers at the Bilbao Bizkaia DWeek 2017 - British Council". www.britishcouncil.es.
  18. ^ a b "Carry Somers: 'Las mujeres están liderando el cambio en la industria de la moda'".
  19. ^ "eXXpedition - All-women voyages exploring the impact of plastics in our ocean". eXXpedition. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  20. ^ "Meet the Conscious Fashion Campaign: New York 2021 Honorees". 22 November 2021.
  21. ^ "What does it really cost to make your clothes?". Financial Times. 7 June 2022.
  22. ^ "Interview: Carry Somers of Pachacuti on the Fashion Revolution". www.triplepundit.com. 14 January 2014. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
  23. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 July 2015. Retrieved 12 July 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  24. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 2015-07-31.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  25. ^ "About fair trade" (PDF). www.fairtrade.net. 2011.
  26. ^ "The WFTO Way « WFTO Europe". wfto-europe.org. 9 August 2013.
  27. ^ Holmes, Rachel (14 December 2009). "Pachacuti: a fair-trade fashion pioneer". The Guardian.
  28. ^ Todd, Jennifer. "Pachacuti – Sustainable Fair Trade Management System - Magazine - Global Partner Network: Corporate Social Responsibility". www.csr360gpn.org.
  29. ^ "GeoFairTrade - Geotraceability for fair trade - FP7". Archived from the original on 6 November 2013. Retrieved 2013-11-14.
  30. ^ "Transparency - Who made your hat? - Pachacuti". Archived from the original on 11 July 2015. Retrieved 12 July 2015.
  31. ^ a b "Hollings: The Big Issue - Manchester Metropolitan University". www.hollings.mmu.ac.uk.
  32. ^ "World Fair Trade Organization". World Fair Trade Organization.
  33. ^ "UK aiming to clamp down on fashion waste". www.newstalkzb.co.nz. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  34. ^ "Carry Somers TV interview. Plan Textil, Argentina". 7 July 2017. Retrieved 14 July 2022 – via www.youtube.com.
  35. ^ "Carry Somers on BBC World News 24 April 2017". 9 May 2017. Retrieved 14 July 2022 – via www.youtube.com.
  36. ^ "YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  37. ^ "BBC Radio 4 - Radio 4 in Four - Swapping, second-hand and sustainability: Mary Portas on the future of fashion".
  38. ^ "Fashion industry 'needs to be more transparent'". BBC News. 24 April 2019.
  39. ^ "The Environmental Cost Of Fashion". www.wbur.org. 3 December 2019. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  40. ^ Price, Susan. "How Two Entrepreneurs Became Unexpected Activists And Started A Fashion Revolution". Forbes. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  41. ^ Smith, Olivia Buxton (24 April 2017). "She Wears It Well: Fashion Revolution co-founder Carry Somers offers her tips for creating a sustainable wardrobe". The Telegraph. Retrieved 14 July 2022 – via www.telegraph.co.uk.
  42. ^ Makazaga, Iñaki (16 January 2018). "Pregunta quién hace tu ropa y salvarás vidas". El País (in Spanish).
  43. ^ "5 Years On From The Rana Plaza Collapse, How Much Has Actually Changed?". British Vogue. 23 April 2018. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  44. ^ "On World Environment Day, we remember the Rana Plaza Disaster and see how it changed fashion forever". Newsweek. 5 June 2018.
  45. ^ "What does it really cost to make your clothes?". Financial Times. 7 June 2022.
  46. ^ "After Essex: In Conversation with Carry Somers | University of Essex".
  47. ^ Exeter, University of. "University of Exeter". geography.exeter.ac.uk.
  48. ^ "Más que una moda, una revolución | Carry Somers y Frank Zambrelli | Centro". www3.centro.edu.mx. Archived from the original on 29 June 2020.
  49. ^ Latin American Fashion Summit retrieved 6 March 2019
  50. ^ a b Somers, Carry. Churchill Fellowship https://www.churchillfellowship.org/ideas-experts/ideas-library/a-dictionary-of-plant-fibre-and-colour/. Retrieved 13 October 2024. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  51. ^ "A & C BLACK : Working ethically". Archived from the original on 16 July 2012. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  52. ^ [1] Archived 24 March 2015 at the Wayback Machine
  53. ^ "Conscious Fashion Campaign: New York Announces 10 Women-led Honoree Organizations". 16 November 2021.
  54. ^ "2020 Winners – LUXURY LAW SUMMIT".
  55. ^ "Sustainable and Ethical Fashion 2019". 12 February 2019.
  56. ^ "The Progress 1000: Equality Champions". 7 September 2016.
  57. ^ "Source Awards 2013". The Source. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  58. ^ "Past Editions / 2011 Awards". IE. Archived from the original on 12 July 2015. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  59. ^ "Observer Ethical awards Winners 2011". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  60. ^ "Awards for Excellence 2011, Big Ticks". Financial Times. 7 June 2011. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  61. ^ "Hatty Award". www.hatlife.com. Archived from the original on 25 June 2018. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
  62. ^ BBC. "BBC - Radio 4 Woman's Hour -Carry Somers". www.bbc.co.uk.
  63. ^ "Carry defies gunmen to scoop top award". Ashbourne News Telegraph. 12 July 2006. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
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