SHEIN”S current homepage.

Fashion is one of the most common ways for individuals to express their true selves. It allows people to stand out from the crowd, empowering individuality. Whether through bold patterns, vibrant colors, or unique accessories, we can assert our individuality and break free from societal norms. In more recent years, the fashion world has made its way online. What used to be navigating through various in-person retail stores to purchase items, can now be done with just a few clicks on your device. 

How did the pandemic affect the online purchasing rate?

Established in 2008, SHEIN has not always been a huge success. COVID-19 played an immense role in the online shopping takeover. Due to various restrictions and social distancing regulations, globally people were left with no other option except to shop online. According to the International Trade Administration, “ …the impact to global e-commerce revenues the pandemic has had, adding an additional 19% sales growth for 2020, and additional 22% sales growth to the existing 9% and 12% regular forecast sales growth rates, respectively.”

SHEIN background information

SHEIN, a global online fashion and lifestyle retailer, became incredibly popular at the time. Located in Nanjing, China, SHEIN is most renowned for its relatively inexpensive apparel as well as its widespread style options in several categories. Influencers on multiple social media apps, including TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram, began showing off their purchases in “clothing hauls.” This is when creators with a great following sit in front of their phones to film videos of clothing reviews. Influencers have been known to be “sponsored” by SHEIN, or collaborators. They then offer a promo code, in hopes of persuading viewers to join the shopping trends. Thus, making SHEIN primarily popular with Gen-Z.

Oakmont senior, Kyra Pappas, noted, “The main appeal SHEIN has is their cheap prices and their bathing suits tend to be decent quality.” The multitude of reviews on SHEIN’s website seem to agree with Pappas’s statement. 

The company focuses on its digital visibility. Operating mainly on its website and app, allows customers to shop from the comfort of their own homes. SHEIN thrives off of vast, volume manufacturing. This includes numerous warehouses and distribution centers in different locations to facilitate quick and cost-effective shipping to customers worldwide. 

What secrets is SHEIN hiding?

Although there seem to be several pros when choosing to order trendy, new clothing and accessories from SHEIN, are there any cons? What secrets is this fast-fashion, international business attempting to cover up? This company seems too good to be true. 

People have begun questioning a profusion of issues. These issues include how they’re able to sell apparel at such strikingly low prices, how much environmental waste their business generates, and most sickening, child labor accusations!

Violations of Workers’ rights

A huge controversy regarding SHEIN is the treatment of its workers. According to Time Magazine, employees work in Chinese factories with harmful conditions, lacking safety protocols like windows and emergency exits without contracts or minimum wage requirements. Wired partook in a prolonged investigation on this matter. Researching how both laborers and consumers suffer from the production of its clothes. 

A 2022 documentary by the U.K. Channel 4, Inside The Shein Machine, found that SHEIN workers plod away at 75-hour shifts with hardly any breaks. The documentary exhibits how factory workers labored unwillingly for 17-hour shifts, discovered through undercover cameras. The workers had to make hundreds of garments a day. It was noted that one factory gave a daily salary of as little as $20! This payment would then be reduced by $14 if there were any mistakes made on the garments. This information significantly goes against China’s labor laws. 

SHEIN did speak out on the subject: “We know we have a responsibility to safeguard the welfare of workers in our supply chain. In light of the recent report in the news, we launched an investigation into the claim that 2 of our suppliers had unacceptable working conditions at their facilities.”

Environmental waste

A common struggle people face, deciding between a healthy environment or a happy pocket. “SHEIN’s horrible for the environment and I feel bad every time I order, but sometimes the cheap prices are worth it,” Oakmont history teacher, Ms. Erin Bergin. At the end of the day, are the cheap prices worth the pain caused to our planet Earth? 

SHEIN manufactures an astonishing amount of merchandise daily. Their mass production rate has contributed to arguably one of the greatest world issues: global warming. The manufacturers’ constant use of virgin polyester and repeated consumption of oil, works out the same amount of CO2 as about 180 coal-fired power plants, according to Synthetics Anonymous 2.0, a report published on Fashion Sustainability. Consequently, approximately 6.3 million tons of carbon dioxide is produced a year by SHEIN alone. 

Child labor accusations

A US Congressional Commission brought attention to the fact that the company, and others in China, were potentially linked to the use of forced labor amongst children in a report. SHEIN openly admitted to having found two cases of child labor in its supply chain last year as it takes closer examinations of the companies that make the clothes it sells. The firm says it temporarily suspended orders from the suppliers involved and did not resume business with them until they had stepped up efforts to tackle the issue. “The case was resolved swiftly, with remediation steps including terminating contracts with underage employees, ensuring the payment of any outstanding wages, arranging medical checkups, and facilitating repatriation to parents/legal guardians as needed,” SHEIN stated. The question remains if the corporation truly took accountability for its scandal and put a stop to its unethical actions. 

Why do people still choose Shein?

After diving into the malevolent acts of this corporation, people may question why people still choose to purchase from this company. “Honestly, when I need new clothes, I don’t always want to pay a fortune, and I can usually find exactly what I’m looking for on SHEIN’s website. They have especially good vacation clothes,” remarked Oakmont sophomore, Jada LeBlanc. 

Bergin voiced a similar opinion, “You can literally find any style for cheap prices.”  While both their points are exceptionally valid, there may be another way to still shop for cheap and find good quality items. 

Avoiding SHEIN

The key is thrifting! Thrifting is a great, sustainable alternative. Many local thrift stores are stocked with unique finds. If you prefer the idea of online shopping, apps including Depop and Poshmark offer second-hand items from your at-home devices. Both apps offer a circular fashion marketplace where anyone can buy, sell, and discover desirable, affordable second-hand fashion.