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Carry Somers
Somers in 2017
Born1966 (age 57–58)
Seaton, Devon, England
NationalityBritish
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 fashion campaigner. She is founder of Fashion Revolution and founder and director of Pachacuti.

Background

Somers was born in Seaton, Devon in 1966 and attended Colyton Grammar School. She has a degree in Languages and European Studies from Westminster College, Oxford, and a master's in Native American Studies from the University of Essex[1] which presented her with the alumnus of the year award in 2009.[2][3] Somers set up fairtrade fashion brand Pachacuti in 1992 and founded Fashion Revolution in 2013, now the world's largest fashion movement. [4] [5]

Career

Fashion Revolution

Somers is founder of Fashion Revolution, a global movement which arose from the Rana Plaza garment factory disaster in Bangladesh on 24 April 2013.[6][7][8] Fashion Revolution is now recognised as the world's largest fashion activism movement, [9] campaigning for systemic reform of the fashion industry with a focus on the need for greater supply chain transparency. Fashion Revolution Day takes place globally on 24 April each year and in 2016 grew into Fashion Revolution Week. In 2017, 2 million people engaged with Fashion Revolution Week, with 3.25 million people engaging in 2018 and 1000 events around the world. [10] [11][12] In 2019, 1800 events took place in 60 countries.

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 [13] in June 2015 and Fashion Question Time annually from 2015 to 2018 in UK Parliament and in 2019 at the V&A. [14][15]. Somers speaks nationally [16][17] and internationally [18][19][20][21][22] about transparency, human rights and environmental issues in the fashion supply chain.

Fashion Revolution works all year round to highlight the need for greater transparency in fashion supply chains as a means to creating a more socially and environmentally responsible industry. In 2017 Fashion Revolution collaborated with Microfinance Opportunities on the Garment Worker Diaries project, the largest ever survey of garment workers, interviewing 540 people in India, Bangladesh and Cambodia over a year.[23][24] Fashion Revolution has collaborated with organisations around the world, including Greenpeace for the first Make Something Week in December 2017 [25] IndustriALL Global Union [26][27] with the British Council for the 2018 Fashion Revolutionaries partnership [28] and UN India at Lakmé Fashion Week. [29] Somers works on research for the Fashion Transparency Index every year, ranking the world's largest fashion brands on how much they publicly disclose about their policies, procedures, practices and social and environmental impact. [30][31][32] There are now Fashion Revolution teams in over 100 countries around the world. [33]

Pachacuti

Somers founded fair trade hat brand Pachacuti in 1992.[34] Pachacuti was the first company to be certified under the World Fair Trade Organization Sustainable Fair Trade Management System,[35][36] the first International certification of a fair trade, sustainable production process.[37] The WFTO certification "guaranteed practices, procedures and processes that demonstrate social, economic and environmental responsibility throughout the supply chain".[38] Pachacuti's products were labelled Certified Fair Trade by WFTO UK0001-2009 to 2012.[39][40]

Somers piloted the European Union Geo Fair Trade project from 2009–12[41] 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.[42][43]

At London Fashion Week in September 2013, People Tree Ltd. and Pachacuti were the first brands globally to launch the WFTO Fair Trade Guarantee System label.[44][45][46][47]

Press

Somers appears regularly on television and radio in the UK and overseas [48][49]. She is a frequent guest on BBC World Business News[50] and in November 2018 she appeared on BBC Breakfast to talk about the impact of fast fashion on the environment following the Environmental Audit Committee's inquiry into sustainability in the fashion industry[51] Press articles and interviews include: Forbes How Two Entrepreneurs Became Unexpected Activists And Started A Fashion Revolution [52] Telegraph She Wears It well [53] El País [54] Vogue [55] and Newsweek How the Rana Plaza Disaster Changed Fashion Forever [56]

Lectures and Presentations

Somers is a regular speaker at universities, events and conferences, both nationally [43][57][58] and internationally [59] [60] [61] [62] on Fashion Revolution, fair trade, entrepreneurship, sustainability and fashion. She has lectured on cruise ships in Latin America and the Caribbean[63] on textiles, traditional dress, artisan handicrafts, indigenous peoples and fair trade.

Books

Somers wrote the introduction to "Fixing Fashion" which looks at the impacts of consumer culture's addiction to disposable fashion, published in 2015 by New Society. She is co-author of the book Working Ethically, which aims to help business owners find an ethical strategy which will benefit their suppliers, community and environment.[64] She contributed a chapter to the book, published in 2014, Sustainable Luxury and Social Entrepreneurship[65]

Business accomplishments

  • 2019 Lyst named Somers and Orsola de Castro in list of 8 Sustainable Icons Revolutionising the Fashion World, alongside Emma Watson, Meghan Markle, Pharrell Williams and Stella McCartney.[66]
  • 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.[67]
  • 2013 Winner of Outstanding Contribution to Sustainable Fashion at Source Awards, House of Lords[68]
  • 2011 Winner – Best Practice in Sustainable Luxury in Latin America,] Fashion & Accessories[69]
  • 2011 Winner – Observer Ethical Award category 'Fashion & Accessories'[70]
  • 2011 Big Tick Award & 'Highly Commended' – Small Company of the Year category, National Awards for Excellence[71]
  • 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.[72]
  • 2008 Winner of two Re:Fashion Awards: Pachacuti won the Re:Business Award for its business model and the Re:People Award for commitment to the producers and communities with which it trades.
  • 2008 Winner of the Entrepreneur with a Conscience Award in the Make your Mark Awards, the national campaign to unlock the UK's enterprise potential.[73]
  • 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[74]
  • 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.[75]

See also

References

  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. ^ https://www.standard.co.uk/fashion/meet-the-sustainable-revolutionists-a4119051.html
  6. ^ Butterly, Amelia (24 April 2015). "People are wearing clothes inside out to mark Fashion Revolution Day - BBC Newsbeat".
  7. ^ Sharkey, Linda (24 April 2015). "Fashion Revolution Day: wear your clothes inside out and ask #whomademyclothes to support worker welfare". The Independent. London.
  8. ^ "It's Fashion Revolution Day: Let's Show We Care". 24 April 2015.
  9. ^ "Upcycling Your Clothes Could Reduce Over a Billion Tons of Greenhouse Gases". 8 January 2018.
  10. ^ The Guardian, Tamsin Blanchard (24 April 2018). "Fashion Revolution Week: seven ways to get involved". Guardian.
  11. ^ "Two million people supported Fashion Revolution Week".
  12. ^ FashionNetwork.com. "2 mn take part in Fashion Revolution Week celebrations".
  13. ^ "Ethical Fashion 2020: a New Vision for Transparency - Total Politics". 1 July 2015.
  14. ^ Ferrier, Morwenna (23 April 2018). "Labour MP Rushanara Ali: 'Rana Plaza was a man-made disaster'". The Guardian.
  15. ^ "Euronews Living | Five ways to get involved with fashion revolution week". 23 April 2019.
  16. ^ Exeter, University of. "University of Exeter". lifesciences.exeter.ac.uk.
  17. ^ "The Future of Sustainable Fashion".
  18. ^ "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.
  19. ^ "What would Carry Somers do?".
  20. ^ "Trade show preview: Bangladesh Denim Expo plugs transparency for its next edition".
  21. ^ "Carry Somers at the Bilbao Bizkaia DWeek 2017 - British Council". www.britishcouncil.es.
  22. ^ Ijelman, Cynthia. "Carry Somers: 'Transparency is the first step in transforming fashion'".
  23. ^ Nagaraj, Anuradha. "Who made my clothes? Asian workers' diaries show 'human cost' of..."
  24. ^ "Garment Worker Diaries Reveal Working Conditions, Wages in Bangladesh, India, Cambodia". sustainablebrands.com.
  25. ^ "Exclusive: Fashion Revolution and Greenpeace team up for Make Something Week - HUNGER TV".
  26. ^ "Why boycotting brands won't help garment workers".
  27. ^ "Bangladesh: elements of a successful campaign".
  28. ^ British Council Fashion Revolutionaries https://design.britishcouncil.org/projects/fashion-revolutionaries/
  29. ^ Team, ELLE India. "4 things you need to know about the upcoming Lakmé Fashion Week 2018". Elle India.
  30. ^ Dazed Digital, Morgane Nyfeler (24 April 2018). "Are fashion brands actually making progress at becoming ethical?". Dazed.
  31. ^ Fashion Revolution (9 May 2017). "Carry Somers on BBC World News 24 April 2017" – via YouTube.
  32. ^ "Fashion supply chains 'still not transparent enough'".
  33. ^ "Fashion Revolution Week: Behind the scenes of a £2 trillion industry".
  34. ^ by 3p Contributor on Tuesday, Jan 14th, 2014 (14 January 2014). "Interview: Carry Somers of Pachacuti on the Fashion Revolution". Triplepundit.com. Retrieved 25 June 2018. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  35. ^ "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)
  36. ^ "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)
  37. ^ "About fair trade" (PDF). www.fairtrade.net. 2011.
  38. ^ "The WFTO Way « WFTO Europe". wfto-europe.org.
  39. ^ Holmes, Rachel (14 December 2009). "Pachacuti: a fair-trade fashion pioneer". the Guardian.
  40. ^ Todd, Jennifer. "Pachacuti – Sustainable Fair Trade Management System - Magazine - Global Partner Network: Corporate Social Responsibility". www.csr360gpn.org.
  41. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 6 November 2013. Retrieved 2013-11-14.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  42. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 11 July 2015. Retrieved 12 July 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  43. ^ a b web@mmu.ac.uk, New Media Team, Marketing & Communications. "Hollings: The Big Issue - Manchester Metropolitan University". www.hollings.mmu.ac.uk.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  44. ^ "World Fair Trade Organization". World Fair Trade Organization.
  45. ^ "Pachacuti - Rewardrobe - London's first Slow Fashion Consultancy". Rewardrobe. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
  46. ^ "Estethica 2013 - peppermint magazine". 28 February 2013.
  47. ^ "Press release" (PDF). wfto-europe.org. 2013.
  48. ^ NewstalkZB https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/mary-creagh-and-carry-somers-on-proposed-british-penny-tax-on-fashion-industry/
  49. ^ Plan Textil, Argentina https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7H6S7teh_zI
  50. ^ BBC World News https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7OWq7iCQ58
  51. ^ BBC Breakfast https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SM-AiVcAvTE
  52. ^ https://www.forbes.com/sites/susanprice/2018/04/23/how-two-entrepreneurs-became-unexpected-activists-and-started-a-fashion-revolution/ |title=Forbes|
  53. ^ https://www.telegraph.co.uk/fashion/style/wears-fashion-revolution-co-founder-carry-somers-offers-tips/ |title=Telegraph|
  54. ^ https://elpais.com/elpais/2018/01/05/planeta_futuro/1515164122_650559.html
  55. ^ https://www.vogue.co.uk/article/rana-plaza-fifth-anniversary-how-has-fashion-industry-changed |title=British Vogue|
  56. ^ https://www.newsweek.com/world-environment-day-how-rana-plaza-disaster-changed-fashion-forever-957141
  57. ^ Exeter, University of. "University of Exeter". geography.exeter.ac.uk.
  58. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 6 July 2015. Retrieved 31 July 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  59. ^ Latin American Fashion Summit https://www.candafoundation.org/latest/news/2018/11/sustainability-and-social-responsibility-priority-issues-at-the-latin-american-fashion-summit retrieved 6 March 2019
  60. ^ Miami Fashion Week https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O79-qUg6l3k |access-date=6 March 2019
  61. ^ Copenhagen Fashion Summit https://www.mochni.com/copenhagen-fashion-summit-2018-summary-and-highlights/
  62. ^ Green is the New Black Singapore https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cF0KGrUTCI0
  63. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 11 September 2015. Retrieved 31 July 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  64. ^ Clifford et al. (2007) Working Ethically, A&C Black
  65. ^ Greenleaf Publishing Published: May 2014 https://gre.presswarehouse.com/books/BookDetail.aspx?productID=395400 Archived 24 March 2015 at the Wayback Machine
  66. ^ https://www.lyst.com/news/sustainable-ethical-fashion/#1551177121150-e57d41d9-cc5e
  67. ^ https://www.standard.co.uk/news/the1000/the-progress-1000-londons-most-influential-people-2016-equality-champions-a3338116.html
  68. ^ "Source Awards 2013". The Source. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  69. ^ "Past Editions / 2011 Awards". IE. Archived from the original on 12 July 2015. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  70. ^ "Observer Ethical awards Winners 2011". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  71. ^ "Awards for Excellence 2011, Big Ticks". Financial Times. 7 June 2011. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  72. ^ "Hatty Award". www.hatlife.com. Archived from the original on 25 June 2018. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
  73. ^ [1][dead link]
  74. ^ BBC. "BBC - Radio 4 Woman's Hour -Carry Somers". www.bbc.co.uk.
  75. ^ "Carry defies gunmen to scoop top award". Ashbourne News Telegraph. 12 July 2006. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
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