“Progress begins with people. The future is collective,” reads a Pangaia press release. It’s referring to the global impact of its latest campaign, A Portrait of Progress, which spotlights seven changemakers all working toward the same, shared future. Made up of individuals who have committed themselves to shaping an Earth Positive Future – the brand’s primary vision – this is a cohort that utterly redefines what it means to protect the planet, not through urgency, but through intention.
“These are stories of disruption. Of discipline. Of deep care,” the release continues – and it couldn’t be more accurate. With skill sets spanning activism, sport, science, art and design, the seven ambassadors represent a powerful intersection of human creativity and purpose.
Photographer Lillie Eiger captures their vast talents in a series of intimate portraits. Styled by Anders Sølvsten Thomsen, they wear thoughtfully curated Pangaia looks that embody the brand’s ethos – grounded in material science and driven by mission.
Since 2019, the London-, New York- and Florence-based brand has consistently championed the convergence of innovation and environmental stewardship. These seven changemakers were chosen not just for their impact, but for the intentional symbolism of the number itself – seven as a signifier of wisdom, unity and reflection, as well as the number of global continents, and the shared truth that meaningful change is never singular. In pursuit of the harmonious meeting of humans and nature – where they not only coexist, but thrive – this campaign calls Pangaia back to its founding principle: “material science in service of the planet and the people who protect it.”
An ode to purpose, told through portraiture and shaped by story, A Portrait of Progress reflects a core belief: that progress is not linear – it is collective, diverse and deeply human. Here, we meet the individuals at the heart of change. Their stories aren’t about scale – they’re about care, creativity and commitment.
Dennis Okwera
While easily recognisable for his abundant modelling gigs (which count i-D Magazine, Dazed and Vogue features, as well as Alex Eagle, Hublot and Calvin Klein campaigns) and his acting, Dennis Okwera is driven by something deeper. When he’s not in front of the camera, Okwera spends his time supporting children through the Lumule Foundation, which he founded to provide access to education and rebuild schools. Dedicated to supporting his war-torn hometown, this year, Okwera plans to cycle a total of 300 kilometres through Uganda to raise funds for a Lumule health clinic, proving that purpose, as opposed to experience, moves us to do extraordinary things. But what moves him? “Hope moves me. Kindness moves me, and seeing kindness around me – that really moves me,” he says. And when asked what piece of advice he would give to his younger self, Okwera replies, “Your cup isn’t empty, it’s half full. No matter the obstacle, just keep your heart strong.”
Dr Rosa Vásquez Espinoza
Bridging Indigenous knowledge and molecular science, Dr. Rosa Vásquez Espinoza is redefining the way we understand and protect the natural world. As not only a Peruvian chemical biologist but also a National Geographic Explorer, a conservationist, the author of The Spirit of the Rainforest (2025) and a Bee:wild ambassador (a charity co-founded by Pangaia), she works at the intersection of traditional wisdom and cutting-edge research to advocate for biodiversity, sustainability and community-driven conservation. “Being Earth positive means remembering that nature is alive, that it has a right to exist and that it’s both our duty and our honour to protect it,” she says. When asked what advice she’d give to someone looking to take positive action, she offers this: “Start right where you are, with what you have. Every step counts, like a drop in a river.”
Imogen Grant MBE
Imogen Grant MBE is a lot of things, but most notably, she’s a British Olympic gold medalist for rowing. Most admirably, she’s a doctor advocating for clean rivers as an ambassador for The Rivers Trust and co-founder of the Clean Water Sport Alliance. “The Earth isn’t over yet. We can all take small actions to help realise the vision of our future,” she says. Whether she’s training on the water or working in the medical field, Grant channels her energy into protecting the environments that have shaped her life. Her advocacy for clean waterways is rooted not only in her sport, but in her belief that health – both planetary and personal – starts with access to clean, thriving ecosystems.
Himali Singh Soin
An interdisciplinary artist and poet weaving climate, cosmology and love, Himali Singh Soin creates work that dissolves boundaries between science and the sacred, storytelling and survival. “Trust the oddities about yourself,” she starts. “The things you thought no one’s going to believe – those are your strengths. The exception is your rule.” Through her multidisciplinary practice, she explores the unseen forces – both ecological and emotional – that shape our world, using metaphor as a form of activism and intimacy. From the metaphysics of salt to transnational nuclear culture, her works have been shown at leading art galleries like London’s Serpentine and The Art Institute of Chicago. Soin’s voice invites a different kind of climate dialogue – one rooted in wonder, ambiguity and poetic resistance.
Jaimus Tailor
As the designer and founder of Greater Goods, Jaimus Tailor is reshaping streetwear through the lens of sustainability, functionality and community care. “To me, Earth positive means being resourceful – using what’s around you and giving back locally,” he says. His upcycled designs speak to a future where fashion doesn’t cost the planet but reflects a deeper connection to place and purpose. By turning overlooked materials into sought-after pieces, Tailor proves that innovation starts with intention and that creativity thrives within constraints. How did his journey begin? “My dad was really resourceful. We’d build random stuff with what we found,” he recalls. “That sparked something in me that I carry into my design practice today.”
Hannah Da Silva
In the pursuit of building inclusive outdoor communities for women, GorpGirls founder Hannah Da Silva has created a space where connection, confidence and adventure intersect. GorpGirls – the collective taking activity-oriented events such as hiking, yoga and rock climbing to London, Los Angeles, New York and Japan – is her response to the lack of representation in outdoor culture; a movement where diversity, sisterhood and a love for nature thrive. “Being part of a collective means friendship,” says Da Silva. “It’s about bringing each other up, not down.” With ambitions to expand into retreats and documentary filmmaking, she goes on to reflect on her relationship with the Earth, she says, “Earth positivity is about being grateful – making a little conscious effort every day to preserve what gives us life.”
Kyle Thomas
A conservationist and youth ambassador using digital platforms for change, Kyle Thomas is amplifying climate action by meeting the next generation where they are most of the time – online. “As I got older, I realised we’re not separate from the natural world – we are part of it,” he says. Through accessible, engaging content, he transforms complex environmental issues into relatable narratives that inspire everyday action. Referring to his early journey into advocacy, he adds, “A big mistake I made was thinking I could do it all alone. Collaboration changed everything for me.”
Photography by Lillie Eiger.
