Emily was born in 1948 and grew up in a small town with her two older brothers and a younger sister. Her parents owned a restaurant in the town, but they were not wealthy. Emily's parents both worked hard to give the children a good education. The children also worked in the restaurant after school and on weekends.

When Emily left school she wanted to be either an actress or a nurse. But many actors and actresses don't earn much money. Emily wanted a good income and she also wanted to help people, so she became a nurse.

After she finished her nurse's training she worked in a large city hospital for several years. She then decided to travel and see the world. She went to a lot of different places and was sometimes upset by the things she saw. She saw people who had neither food nor shelter. She realised that many people lived in terrible poverty and had no chance of a better life. She decided then that one day she would come back and do something to help them.

When she returned home she met and married Barry Briggs. They had a small guesthouse in which they both worked very hard. By 1985 Emily needed a change and she opened her first shop. She sold clothes made from natural fabrics like cotton, silk and wool. The shop was very successful and Emily opened many more shops. As she made more and more money, Emily remembered the people she saw on her travels. She now felt she was ready to help them.

Emily started a Village Trade programme. People in villages made natural fabrics, clothing, jewellery, bags and shoes for her company, The Clothes Line . She paid them a fair price for their products. She made sure that the people who made goods for her shops had secure jobs, so that everyone in the village would benefit. She now has over 30 suppliers from nearly 20 countries around the world.

Today, The Clothes Line has grown into a multi-national company with 1,500 shops in 50 countries. Emily is now one of the richest women in the world. She has won many awards, including Business Woman of the Year. She supports many groups like Greenpeace, Amnesty International and Friends of the Earth.

Emily still travels a lot, looking for new products and for people who need her help. She has shown that one person can make a difference. She believes that companies that make a profit from society should give something back to that society. She believes in a better and fairer world where people care more about nature and each other than about profit.