By Lauren Hyland
Shein is an incredibly popular fast fashion brand founded in Nanjing, China by Chris Xu. With low prices and over 600,000 products, Shein makes keeping up with the latest fashion trends a breeze updating its website with an average of 6,000 new styles every day. However, it thrives at the cost of low-quality goods and harsh labor environments.
Shein’s popularity is obvious when viewing major statistics. As of 2022 Shein holds 74.7 million total users worldwide and that number has only grown since. Within the same year it was determined that Shein had a value of $100 billion.
So, if Shein is so popular, what could be wrong with it?
Shein continues to harm the environment, have improper labor conditions and use harmful chemicals in their products.
Shein stands as the largest contributor to fast fashion, low-priced, trendy clothing that samples styles from top designers and introduces them to low-quality material. The goal of fast fashion is to put the latest trends in retail stores at an affordable price, only until the next big trend comes along. Unfortunately, this mass production and consumption harms the environment. The unsustainable manufacturer uses virgin polyester and large consumption of oil producing about 6.3 million tons of carbon dioxide a year. And, oftentimes, because of fast-changing trends, Shein items are worn only a few times before being trashed. The clothing is also made of non-durable materials, leading to mass amounts of textile waste. Since it can take 200+ years for clothing items to decompose, this pollution is long-term and irreversible.
Shein’s unethical labor practices have long been a point of contention among critics and labor rights advocates. Reports and investigations have surfaced alleging poor working conditions, low wages, long hours and even exploitation of labor in its supply chain.
One of the primary issues with Shein’s labor practices is its heavy reliance on outsourced manufacturing in countries where labor laws are lax and enforcement is weak. This allows the company to cut costs by paying workers below living wages and disregarding basic labor rights. Additionally, there have been numerous reports of unsafe working conditions in Shein’s supplier factories, including overcrowded and poorly ventilated facilities, lack of proper safety equipment and even instances of forced labor and child labor. These conditions not only violate basic human rights but also put workers’ health and well-being at risk
When it comes to salary, according to an underconver investigation by the media company inewspaper in the United Kingdom, Shein factory workers in China often work up to 18 hour days with only one day off per month. The investigation also found that workers recieve a base salary of about $556 a month to make 500 items a day. However, in another factory, no base salary is allowed, instead workers receive 0.27 cents for every item they make. The wages can be reduced if any mistakes are made by workers. Clearly, these wages are not enough for workers to support their families, let alone themselves.
Beyond harmful work conditions is Shein’s harm to the environment through their use of harmful chemicals in manufacturing materials. Shein stands aware of this issue going as far as to put a label on their products warning buyers of the high levels of toxic chemicals in their clothing. According to a study done by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, out of “38 samples of children’s, adult’s and maternity clothes and accessories Shein was selling, one in five items had elevated levels of chemicals — including lead, Perfluoroalkyl, polyfluoroalkyl and phthalates substances,” all of which can be harmful to humans.
Shein’s rapid rise to popularity as a fast fashion giant has brought to light a myriad of ethical and environmental concerns plaguing the fashion industry. From its detrimental impact on the environment through mass production and textile waste to its exploitation of labor in outsourced manufacturing facilities, Shein embodies many of the negative aspects associated with the fast fashion model.
As consumers become increasingly aware of the social and environmental consequences of their purchasing decisions, there is growing pressure on companies like Shein to prioritize sustainability, ethical labor practices and consumer safety. Fortunately, there are alternatives to fast fashion that promote healthier and more sustainable shopping habits, even at affordable prices.
Options such as thrift stores and supporting small businesses offer opportunities to find unique and environmentally friendly clothing. Additionally, individuals can contribute to sustainability efforts by upcycling clothing they no longer wear or donating items to friends or local thrift stores, fostering a culture of reuse and reducing textile waste.
By making conscious choices and supporting initiatives that prioritize ethical and sustainable practices, consumers can play a significant role in shaping a more responsible and environmentally conscious fashion industry.
