Drivers of Sustainable Progress to Follow on Instagram
Marina Testino
What’s behind the word influencer? Today, it’s no longer just about curated feeds or aspirational aesthetics. True influence comes from those who use their voice to inspire change turning style into a statement, and lifestyle into a call for a better world. These are the women setting the tone for a new era: where fashion is more than beautiful imagery, it’s a driver of progress.
In today’s landscape, sustainability has moved beyond trend status to become a movement. And the faces leading it prove that influence can be both aspirational and deeply responsible. From reinventing luxury with circular design to championing regenerative farming or ocean preservation, this new wave of women is reshaping how we think about fashion, beauty, and the planet. Here are eight women to follow if you want your feed to be as inspiring as it is impactful.
1. Rosalie Mann
Rosalie Mann is a force in the fight against plastic pollution. Through her foundation No More Plastic, she campaigns for innovative alternatives that push industries toward a plastic-free future. With her sharp activist lens, she bridges advocacy and design, making her voice essential for anyone who believes sustainability should start with systemic change.
2. Arizona Muse
Supermodel-turned-activist Arizona Muse has grounded her career in the soil itself. With her charity DIRT, she promotes regenerative agriculture and biodynamic farming, showing the direct link between healthy land and sustainable textiles. Muse’s effortless style paired with her commitment to the earth embodies a new kind of eco-luxury – aspirational yet rooted in responsibility.
Once known purely for her digital fashion influence, Doina Ciobanu has evolved into a global sustainability advocate. As a UN Environment Program voice, she speaks out on waste reduction and conscious consumption while curating a wardrobe that marries timeless elegance with responsibility. Following her is a reminder that sustainability can be stylish, modern, and uncompromising.
Ukrainian creative ruler Julie Pelipas has rewritten the rules of upcycling. With her brand Bettter, she transforms men’s suits into sharp womenswear, proving that circularity and craftsmanship can live at the highest levels of fashion. Her work makes sustainability not only chic but undeniably trendsetting.
Through her Kyiv-based label KSENIASCHNAIDER, Ksenia Schnaider has pioneered fashion-forward upcycling. Her cult “demi-denim” jeans and reworked vintage pieces prove that sustainability can spark global trends while keeping waste out of landfills. Schnaider’s vision is proof that innovation and responsibility can walk hand in hand and still make a statement.
Lauren Sánchez brings sustainability into the sphere of global impact. As co-chair of the Bezos Earth Fund, she champions climate action, biodiversity, and ocean preservation, using her platform to amplify large-scale ecological change. Her influence underscores that sustainability isn’t only grassroots, it requires vision, leadership, and powerful advocacy on the world stage.
With her bold creative activism, Marina Testino challenges the excesses of fashion head-on. Her viral #OneDressToImpress initiative, wearing the same red suit for two months, questioned overconsumption while proving that style is about creativity, not constant novelty. Her projects push the conversation forward, making her feed a space where fashion meets fearless advocacy.
8. Babba Rivera
As the founder of beauty brand Ceremonia, Babba Rivera has expanded the definition of sustainability. Rooted in clean beauty and cultural pride, her work blends ethics with identity and inclusivity. Rivera proves that sustainability isn’t just about materials, it’s about values, community, and rituals that stand the test of time.
From supermodels to entrepreneurs and activists, these women remind us that fashion’s future is not only about aesthetics but also about impact. They show that sustainability is not a boundary but a playground for innovation, creativity, and influence. Following them means not just staying ahead of trends but staying connected to the future of fashion itself.
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