One of the fastest-growing fashion retailer SHEIN has shaken the online sector by its storm, and it’s notorious for its murky practices. So, is SHEIN a more sustainable or ethical company? Let’s dive into it…
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What Is SHEIN?
SHEIN is an online global clothing brand that sells clothes of different kinds and varieties. It is an online fashion retailing app based in China. Founded in 2008 by marketing specialist ‘Chris Xu’
It has rapidly become one of the world’s most popular fashion brands, particularly among Gen Z consumers and influencers.
Why is SHEIN so bad?
SHEIN was founded in early 2008 and now boasts an Instagram following of 28 million people. The brand goes by one of its philosophies which is “Everyone can enjoy the beauty of fashion”. One of the eye-catching factors that this brand uses is they sell clothes at alarmingly low prices and of very dubious quality – if your package arrives at all. But as fast as the brand gained popularity controversies were tagging along in 2020 the company was accused of selling offensive items such as Islamic prayer rugs as decorative mats to a necklace in the shape of a swastika.
SHEIN was also accused of stealing designs from other small independent labels and printing out low-quality copies for a fraction of the price. So basically that’s not what we call “the beauty of fashion” Like Boohoo, SHEIN is as opaque a brand as we get. The brand relies on influencers for its branding and marketing. SHEIN is an especially appealing brand for young and adult women because of its low prices and budget.
Also read: How To Change Shipping Method On Shein?
Netizens Review On SHEIN
SHEIN’s popularity has become double-edged because of its low prices which make it accessible to those who can’t afford high-end brands. However, the negative reviews about their quality and customer service were not entirely baseless. When you buy from Shein you are essentially gambling with your purchase because sometimes you get decent items but often you might’ve got the questionable quality of your purchase. As we all know low prices come at a cost.
SHEIN’s business model relies on fast fashion sales which often ends up cutting concerns in quality and labor practices. The poor customer service, especially with returns adds another layer of frustration. All that aside, let’s take a deeper look into how this mass-producing brand treats people, planet, and animals across the supply chain. Let’s readout how ethical is Shein?
Environment impact
Aside from using a couple of lower-impact materials here and there, there is no evidence that the brand is taking any serious steps to reduce its substantial impact on the environment.
From hazardous chemicals to carbon emissions to microplastics. On top of that brands mass producing such cheap poorly made clothing perpetuate a throwaway fashion culture simply existing.
SHEIN should have to do a complete 180 to race its score in this area.
Labor conditions
Again aside from auditing some percentage of its supply chain, there is no improvement in labor conditions. Workers should have the right to a living wage, collective bargaining, and abuse of a free work environment.
Animal Welfare
SHEIN is not good enough for our animal friends. They don’t use leather, fur, angora, and exotic animal skin for their products but it does use wool, down, exotic animal hair, decorative feathers, and silk without stating sources. There is also some need for improvement SHEIN!
Overview rating and summary: So, how ethical is SHEIN? Well, the answer is not shocking. SHEIN obtains our unhappiest response of “We avoid.” Overall, the brand has a lot of work to do as well as improvements in all three areas. As consumers, we can make a difference by taking care of what we own, reducing what we buy, shopping second-hand, and choosing to support brands that are doing better.
