Carry Somers is a pioneer in Fair Trade in the UK. She is the creator of the fashion and accessories brand Pachacuti, founded in 1992.
Carry Somers is known for her social development work both in the UK and overseas. Pachacuti is best known as the only supplier of the Fair Trade Panama Hat. Working with co-operatives eliminates the intermediaries involved in the production process and enables the weavers to retain more of the value of the finished hat. Pachacuti's Fair Trade purchasing gives women a sustainable livelihood, enabling them to remain within their rural communities, fitting hat weaving around the agricultural cycle and their families.
Pachacuti is the first company in the world to be certified under the World Fair Trade Organisation Sustainable Fair Trade Management System, re-named the Fair Trade System in 2011. This is the first International certification of a fair trade, sustainable production process. Tools were developed to analyse the entire production process: raw material mapping, eco-mapping (production, waste, chemicals, energy, water) and production flow charts. Together with producers, Carry analyses where improvements need to be made and commits to an annual action plan. The assessment extends upwards through the supply chain, shipping, packaging, staff/management relationships, green utilities, energy and recycling. Pachacuti's products can be labelled Certified Fair Trade by WFTO UK0001-2009.
Pachacuti is also a pilot for the EU Geo Fair Trade project, the only non-food pilot involved. Transparency and traceability need to be improved within the fashion industry and this programme will allow consumers to scan a barcode and see Pachacuti's entire production process, from the straw to the weavers, complete with over 100 different social, economic, geolocalization and environmental indicators which will track change over several years.
International social development work has included capacity building, design training and support for community groups and co-operatives throughout the Andes, building a grocery store to improve levels of nutrition in a rural community in Ecuador, funding rent and food for Alcoholics Anonymous for a year in Ecuador and paying pensions, medical and funeral expenses for weavers.
She is co-author of the book Working Ethically, which helps business owners to find an ethical strategy which will benefit their suppliers, community and environment.[1]
Carry was instrumental in Ashbourne becoming a Fairtrade Town and in the adoption of the Local Reward Scheme for independent shops in Ashbourne. She was one of the Government's Women’s Enterprise Ambassadors and frequently visits schools and universities to talk about Fair Trade and business ethics. Carry is also a Business Language Ambassador, teamed with Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School in order to raise awareness of the importance of language skills. Pachacuti has won numerous awards for work within the local community. In 2010 Carry Somers started working with local schools and St Oswald's church to raise money to buy glasses for Pachacuti's producers. Glasses for Glasses days are now held annually at local primary schools and children wear sunglasses, glasses or home-made glasses to school for a day for a small payment which funds glasses and cataract operations in Ecuador.
Carry also co-founded Clean Slate, the UK's first fair trade and organic school uniform company
Carry Somers was born in Seaton, Devon in 1966 and attended Colyton Grammar School. After completing a degree in Languages and European Studies, she took a Masters in Native American Studies. It was whilst researching the changes in textile production in the Andes, that she came across two producer groups who had experienced arson attacks and began to create designs in order to provide them with access to market. A planned PhD in natural dyes was put on hold and she began to work with more groups of marginalised, rural producers in the Andes. By 2009 she was supporting 1200 weavers, embroiderers, knitters, felt-makers and milliners in Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia. Sales have been used to fund community development projects such as building a grocery store and support for alcoholics and their families.
Carry Somers met her American husband in Ecuador as a result of 9/11. She had flown to Ecuador on 9/11 with her daughter, Sienna, and her future husband, Mark Rogers, was due to fly out but his flight was delayed. Mark Rogers is a sculptor and his work was exhibited several times at the White House when Bill Clinton was president.
Carry speaks nationally and international on topics including fair trade, entrepreneurship, sustainability, fashion and certification.
2011 Winner - Best Practice in Sustainable Luxury in Latin America, Fashion & Accessories 2011 Finalist - WGSN Global Fashion Awards Sustainability category 2011 Winner - Observer Ethical Award, category 'Fashion & Accessories' 2011 Big Tick Award & 'Highly Commended' – Small Company of the Year category, National Awards for Excellence 2011 Big Tick Award & 'Highly Commended' – Responsible Supply Chain category, National Awards for Excellence 2010 Pachacuti is certified as the 1st company world wide through World Fair Trade Organisation (WFTO)'s Sustainable Fair Trade Management System 2010 Finalist & Big Tick Award – International Category, National Awards for Excellence 2010 Winner – The Inspirational Business Mum, Mumpreneur Awards 2009 The University of Essex named Carry Somers 'Alumnus of the Year 2009'. 2008 Winner of The Hat Life Magazine Hatty Award for significant contribution to the headwear industry. 2008 Winner of two Re:Fashion Awards[1], the world's first ethical 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[2] Awards, the national campaign to unlock the UK's enterprise potential. 2008 Finalist in the WEBA Ethical Entrepreneur Award; Winner of the Derbyshire Business Awards Commitment to the Community 2007 Invited to meet the Queen at Buckingham Palace on 14 February in recognition of her significant contribution to UK business. The reception was held to recognise the achievements of the UK's top businesswomen who have made it to the top by their own efforts. Winner of the FSB British Small Business Champions Ethical Award; East Midlands winner of the Edge award which recognises employers who have provided outstanding learning opportunities for young people; Elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts; interviewed on BBC Radio 4s Woman's Hour [2] 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.