Carry Somers, co-founder of the global campaign Fashion Revolution, has been a prominent advocate for transparency and ethical practices in the fashion industry since the 2013 Rana Plaza factory collapse in Bangladesh, which claimed the lives of 1,134 workers. The disaster prompted Somers and designer Orsola de Castro to establish the movement, aiming to address unsafe working conditions and environmental exploitation within the industry.

Somers’ commitment to ethical fashion extends back more than two decades. In 1992, she created Pachacuti, a label dedicated to partnering with artisan communities in the Andes and promoting transparency throughout its supply chain. This early work helped set a precedent for later activism focused on the social and environmental impacts of fashion production.

Fashion Revolution has since grown into the world’s largest organization dedicated to fashion activism, exerting pressure on brands and governments to improve accountability and sustainability standards. The campaign encourages consumers to demand information about how and where their clothing is made, calling for reforms that protect both workers and the environment.

Beyond advocating for labor rights, Somers has also investigated broader environmental issues such as microplastic pollution and textile waste. Notably, in 2020, she undertook a 2,000-mile sailing expedition across the Pacific Ocean to document pollution from plastics and chemicals affecting marine ecosystems.

In her most recent work, Somers challenges common perceptions about the environmental footprint of natural fibers. Last September, she co-authored The Nature of Fashion, a publication that scrutinizes the assumption that natural materials like cotton are inherently biodegradable, highlighting the complexities involved in evaluating the sustainability of textile choices.

Through her continued efforts, Carry Somers remains a leading voice pushing the fashion industry toward greater ethics, transparency, and environmental responsibility.