Boston-area student Mariame Diagana encourages her 30,000+ followers on social media to make thoughtful fashion choices.

I used to have a closet full of fast fashion — Shein, H&M, and Zara. I loved being able to stay on-trend at such a low price and low effort. In 2021, when I created my TikTok account, @dailymootds, I merely posted outfit inspiration and clothing hauls. It wasn’t until relatively recently, as I started getting older, that I thought about where my clothes come from and where they go when I’m done with them. 

The deeper I delved into the hidden side of fast fashion, the more difficult it became to avoid knowledge of fast fashion. I found articles and videos about industry excess that created waste, microplastics, and dye in our oceans and rivers. I learned that many underpaid garment workers put themselves in jeopardizing situations. But I didn’t know how to respond to my newfound awareness of the upsetting consequences of the fashion industry.

That’s when I started to change my practices. I can say now that I thrift more than I buy retail. Honestly, secondhand shopping is more enjoyable than people think. It’s so special to have a one-of-a-kind piece — something with a story. In addition, when I buy pieces that aren’t thrifted, I try to make sure they’re from a brand with sustainable initiatives and ethical work policies. I acknowledge such things on my TikTok, not to shame people but to show that it’s always possible to have a better option. I am only human and I’m bound to make a few errors along the way. But I am doing my best, and even the tiniest of adjustments will have a significant impact. I’m not compromising on quality — I am compromising on specific brands and products where the price for humanity and the environment is just too much. And that’s an adjustment I want to make.

Inspired? Read about 6 fashion moguls (and mothers!) that prioritize people and the planet.