Some garments are just clothes. Others carry a story worth telling. Our Dian Fossey & Poppy Gorilla Organic T-Shirt is firmly in the second category — and here's why.
Who Was Dian Fossey?
Dian Fossey (1932–1985) was one of the most remarkable wildlife researchers of the 20th century. An American primatologist and conservationist, she dedicated her life to studying and protecting mountain gorillas in the Virunga Mountains of Rwanda.
At a time when gorillas were feared and misunderstood, Fossey did something extraordinary: she lived among them. Over 18 years of fieldwork, she habituated wild gorilla groups to human presence, allowing her to observe their complex social lives, family bonds, and individual personalities up close. Her research transformed the world's understanding of gorillas and laid the foundation for modern great ape conservation.
Her work — and her life — was cut tragically short when she was murdered at her research camp in 1985. But her legacy lives on through the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, which continues her conservation work to this day.
Poppy — A Gorilla Who Made History
Poppy was one of the most famous gorillas Fossey ever studied. Born in 1976 into the Karisoke research group, Poppy was one of the first gorillas to be born into a habituated group — meaning she grew up comfortable around human researchers from the very beginning.
Poppy went on to become a matriarch, raising multiple offspring and becoming a symbol of hope for mountain gorilla conservation. She was observed and documented for decades, providing invaluable data on gorilla development, social structure, and longevity. She passed away in 2020 at the remarkable age of 43 — one of the oldest known wild mountain gorillas ever recorded.
The Design
Our Dian Fossey & Poppy tee features a hand-drawn sketch inspired by the iconic imagery of Fossey's fieldwork — a tribute to both the woman and the gorilla who together changed conservation history.
Available in 15 colours on 100% GOTS-certified organic cotton, it's a wearable piece of history. Every purchase contributes to ongoing great ape conservation through our partnership with the Ape Alliance.
Wear the story. Protect the legacy.