DULCIE EMERSON

Deputy fashion editor

ALMAS PARVEEN: FARMER, TEACHER, LEADER

Meet the woman who has bucked tradition to win respect as an empowering voice within her community, while growing cotton more sustainably

Aged 17, Almas Parveen took over the running of her family’s farm in Pakistan from her father. “I wanted to run my farm productively and increase my average yield, but for some reason I couldn’t,” she says. “I attended Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) classes and learnt many new techniques. My yields increased as my overheads fell, so I started telling the other farmers in my village about the methods I was using.” Almas now trains 400 farmers to use water more efficiently and work with natural pesticides. “I am so happy that female farmers in my community now have the opportunity to be trained by a woman. I am an example to them that they too can make their own choices.”

M&S joined BCI in 2009 as a pioneer member – 100% of the cotton used in our clothing is now sustainably sourced. And always will be. Learn more at marksandspencer.com/cotton