Winner of Country Living Enterprising Rural Women Awards 2006

I am delighted to have won the award for the best growing business in the Country Living Enterprising Rural Women Awards 2006 which recognises and rewards excellence in rural-based businesses. I attended the award ceremony at Hampton Court in July where I learnt that I had won the award, accompanied by my daughter Sienna who was the inspiration for my latest business venture.

The judges were looking for a growing business and chose me as the winner as I have dramatically increased sales this year, supporting over 400 panama hat weavers and 300 milliners, felt makers and knitters throughout Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia. Moreover, with my husband, Mark Rogers, I have set up the UK's first fair trade, organic school uniform company. The judges said “Passion, principles and perseverance have helped Carry Somers take her clothing company Pachacuti from strength to strength, to the benefit of third world communities and her local market town, Ashbourne, in Derbyshire".

Winning this award shows that it is possible to run a successful fashion business from a rural location. It also demonstrates the growing acceptance of fair trade and environmentally conscious clothing. The award couldn't have come at a better time as we have just received our first delivery of 100 boxes of junior school uniforms - shirts, skirts, pinafores, trousers, PE kits and sweatshirts. Clean Slate was created in response to concern about the potentially harmful effects of chemical finishes commonly used on school uniforms. I was unable to buy teflon-free schoolwear for my daughter Sienna and this inspired me to invest in an alternative, sweatshop-free, ‘clean’ uniform.

Clean Slate embodies the socially-responsible business model - school uniforms are all made from certified organic cotton, by a non-profit organisation run by catholic nuns in India. Many of the workers are disadvantaged and disabled women who, through the training, support and employment provided, are able to be rehabilitated into mainstream society. Moreover, any surplus generated in India is then used to fund social projects, such as schools for children with disabilities, orphanages and nursing homes.

Country Living editor Suzy Smith says “These awards celebrate the ingenuity and drive of women who have brought real benefit to their local communities. In Carry’s case, her business has completely changed the fortune of a number of poor rural communities in South America as well. Add to this the green credentials of her products and Carry’s company, Pachacuti, becomes the personification of everything that Country Living espouses".