WEARING IT WELL
The Carry Somers CVsaid, ‘yes we’ve got to do this’.” De Castro came on
board as Fashion Revolution co-founder, and it’s a
partnership that’s endured. “We’re both risk takers,
rat her ta ke a g a mble rat her t ha n play it sa fe.”
Funded on a shoest r ing budget by Ca r r y, t he f irst
Fashion Revolution Day took place in 2014, on the one-
year anniversary. A united call for reform, people from
62 countries took part with secondhand sales, social
media campaigns and more. “I think everyone knew
that something needed to be done, but felt powerless,”
remembers Carry. “We said, ‘Look, here’s somethingthat’s happening – do you want to be part of it?’”
Today, Fashion Revolution has teams in more than 100
countries worldwide, and is now a whole week, while
its activities of research, campaigning, education and
awareness-raising happen all year around.THE QUESTIONS THAT MATTER
Rather than pile on guilt, they suggest a simple way for
ever yone to be involved in Fa sh ion Revolut ion week:
post a picture of the label of your clothes on social
media, tag the brand that made them and ask the
question, ‘Who made my clothes?’.
Carry explains why it works. “Brands say things like
they’re phasing out plastic coat hangers. That’s a
no-brainer! It saves them money. If brands say who is
making their clothes and where, it makes them more
accountable. People can cross reference if any human
rights or environmental abuses are happening.
Organisations are more likely to be able get involved.”
A nd bra nds do appea r to listen. “ We’ve been told,
anecdotally, that for every person who asks the brand
‘ Who made my clot hes? ’ on socia l media , it ’s ta ken a s
representing 10,000 others who feels the same.”
With the hashtag used 170,000 times last year, it1966 Born in Seaton, Devon
1989– Sails square riggers and J Class
1993 yachts in Europe, the Caribbean and
on transatlantic voyages
1991 In a break from her PhD in Natural
Dyes and Symbolism of Colour in the
Andes, starts working with producer
groups in Ecuador. Gives up the PhD
and sets up Pachacuti
1992– Designs and produces knitwear,
2013 embroidered clothing, felt and
panama hats, working with women’s
groups in the Andes
2007 In recognition of her significant
contribution to UK business, Carry
meets the Queen
2013 Has the idea for Fashion Revolution
in the bath a few days after the Rana
Plaza factory collapse
2016 Named one of London’s most
influential people in the Equality
Champions category of the Progress
1000 Awards
2018 More than 275 million people in over
100 countries engage with Fashion
Revolution Week34