Shein Flew Influencers to China to Help Its Image. A Backlash Ensued. (2024)

FAQs

Shein Flew Influencers to China to Help Its Image. A Backlash Ensued.? ›

A Backlash Ensued. The fast-fashion company's attempt to rebut allegations of forced labor and poor working conditions was met with incredulity online. When the ultrafast-fashion retailer Shein invited Kenya Freeman on a free two-week trip to China, she was thrilled.

Shein's response

In response to the backlash, Shein stated that the trip was part of its commitment to transparency. The company believes that the videos from the influencers and their commentary are authentic, respecting their perspectives and voices.

Many of the influencers' followers were upset because the Innovation Center does not accurately portray what really happens in factories, according to reports. Followers called the trip propaganda due to Shein's deep, nightmarish history of allegedly abusing workers in harmful work environments.

The e-commerce brand, which is reliant on digital influencer marketing to generate the majority of its advertising, has been found to severely underpaid workers, exploit and plagiarize the designs of emerging creatives, has reportedly sold Nazi symbols and produces garments that contain an unsafe level of toxic ...

"We have zero tolerance for forced labor. We have zero tolerance for child labor," says Shein's Pernot-Day, adding that the company requires its manufacturers to comply with their local laws. Some of Shein's 5,000-some manufacturers are now in Brazil and Turkey, but most remain in China.

At the same time, Shein and Temu have been accused by American lawmakers of failing to ensure their supply chains comply with the Uighur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) passed last June to penalize Beijing's systematic rights abuses against the Muslim minority group in the western Xinjiang region.

Why do people say Shein is unethical? People say Shein is unethical due to concerns about its environmental impact, labor practices, and alleged design theft. The brand's heavy use of harmful materials, rapid production, and lack of transparency raise ethical issues.

Shein's influencer program is a great way to get free clothes and earn some extra cash. Just fill out the online application or send a pitching email to blogservice@shein.com. If you're selected to be an influencer, Shein will send you a follow up email in 7-10 business days and you can negotiate a contract with them.

Outsourcing labor

One of the key ways that Shein and other fast-fashion brands keep prices low is by outsourcing manufacturing labor to cheaper markets, said Dana Thomas, a Paris-based fashion journalist and author of “Fashionopolis: The Price of Fast Fashion and the Future of Clothes.”

Shein (/ˈʃiːɪn/ SHEE-in; styled as SHEIN; Chinese: 希音; pinyin: Xīyīn) is a fast fashion retailer. Founded in Nanjing, China, in October 2008 as ZZKKO by entrepreneur Chris Xu, Shein grew to become the world's largest fashion retailer as of 2022. The company is currently headquartered in Singapore.

How much does Shein pay their workers in China? ›

Workers in Shein factories on average earn between 6,000 and 10,000 Chinese yuan per month, or about $831 to $1,385, according to a Tuesday report from human rights and environmental advocacy organization Public Eye.

As such, it's easy to see why nearly all of SHEIN's orders are shipped from China—it's simply the most efficient way for them to stay competitive in today's crowded e-commerce landscape!

Shein, a global fast-fashion giant based in China, faces a boycott campaign amid allegations of Uyghur forced labor.

For Diamond's study, commissioned by Marketplace, researchers tested 38 samples of children's and adult clothes and accessories. One in five had concerning levels of chemicals, like lead, PFAS, and phthalates. Unsurprisingly, one of the worst offenders was SHEIN.

Is Shein legit or a scam? Shein operates as a legitimate online store on its website and app. With its roots in China and operational headquarters now in Singapore, Shein is known for an endless selection of stylish clothes and trendy accessories at appealing prices.

As most of you already know, Shein was exposed as being an extremely unethical company in 2022. This is because of its violation of labor laws, stolen clothing designs, and drastic negative effects on the environment.

Fashion e-commerce giant Shein has been accused of copyright infringement in a class-action lawsuit that alleges the company uses data scraping and electronic monitoring to identify popular designs and steals them to generate its products.

Why are the companies under investigation by Congress? Both Shein and Temu have been accused by a House committee of using forced labor from the autonomous region of Xinjiang in China. According to the U.S. State Department, 12 million Uyghurs, Turkic-speaking Muslims, live in Xinjiang and are native to the region.

Shein has been criticized for its lack of transparency regarding its manufacturing processes. Without this information, it's difficult to determine if workers are being treated fairly or if sustainable practices are being used.