Why Does Everyone Hate Shein? A Deep Dive Into Fast Fashion and Its Problems (2024)
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at FSU chapter.
It seems as if the fashion industry has completely transformed in the past decade. People are constantly searching for trends as they surface and cycle through faster than ever. The high standard to keep up with all the latest trends has created a demand for new clothing that is much higher than we’ve ever seen. This can get expensive, and the general population simply doesn’t have the money to fund an endless wardrobe full of clothes that will be out of style in a few weeks. As this problem arose, there entered the new beast of the fashion industry, online fast fashion companies.
The most well-known in the industry is Shein. The company has created a formula that has drawn millions of customers in. Their success can be broken down like this: it’s extremely cheap, it’s accessible and it replicates the styles of more expensive brands. In the past few years, Shein has completely taken over not just the online fashion industry but the fashion industry as a whole. The Guardian recently reported, “The e-commerce giant was valued at $100bn, making it worth as much as Zara and H&M combined.” As they continue to completely dominate the market, they are producing record-breaking numbers of clothing, close to 10,000 new products a day.
As Shein skyrocketed to success, some controversial information has been released about the company. It came out that the working conditions provided for the employees were extremely harsh, including close to 12-hour workdays, severely low salaries and a requirement to produce 500 clothing items a day. It was also reported by Glamour Magazine that if they mess up on any item of clothing, they are penalized two-thirds of their daily wage.
Accompanying the extremely harsh conditions for those producing the clothes, fast fashion also creates a huge environmental impact. In an article written by Rashmila Maiti, “The fashion industry is the second largest consumer industry of water, requiring about 700 gallons to produce one cotton shirt and 2,000 gallons of water to produce a pair of jeans.” With Shein’s production of 10,000 new products a day, the effect these corporations have on the climate become clearer. There are also other factors, like how energy-intensive fashion production is, requiring huge amounts of petroleum and other non-renewable resources. The incredible amount of microplastics in the ocean from the textile industry is also very concerning.
These effects are permanent, and with time, they will only worsen. With social media platforms like TikTok perpetuating these extremely fast-paced trends that expect people to provide themselves with whole new wardrobes each month, these corporations will just get more and more successful. I know how tempting the accessibility and low prices these stores offer can be, but alternatives like thrifting or buying more timeless pieces can help combat the microtrends that have become so popular. Moving forward, I hope that we all try to be a bit more mindful in our purchases and remember that each item comes from somewhere and that its journey to get to your doorstep can be a destructive one.
Along the way, the e-commerce retailer has also gained vocal critics who have questioned, among other things, its connection to China, accused it of stealing designers' works and pointed to how its cheap merchandise contributes to environmental waste. Shein, for the most part, has been tight-lipped through it all.
One of the major environmental issues associated with fast fashion brands like SHEIN is water pollution caused by textile dyeing. The fashion industry is one of the largest contributors to water pollution globally, with an estimated 20% of industrial water pollution coming from textile dyeing and treatment processes.
In October 2022, Chinese fast-fashion conglomerate Shein once again found itself facing allegations of unethical business practices, just another on their long laundry list of wrongdoings that include copying small businesses, allegations of modern slavery and violating labour laws.
Shein's production process is based on excessive “small batches”, and their 6000-plus Chinese factories churn clothing items at an unprecedented rate for pocket change prices. The endless pursuit of volume over craft results in a deluge of bad quality clothes that flood the market.
With Shein, you get what you pay for: low-cost, trendy clothes that can be hit or miss when it comes to actual quality. It's the online-only equivalent of mall stores like Forever 21, H&M, and Zara.
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.
Their extremely low prices often mirror the quality of their products. Many customers have reported poor fabric quality, inconsistent sizing, and clothes that quickly wear out or fade after a few washes.
Artists have filed a racketeering lawsuit accusing it of stealing designs. A congressional report says Shein abuses a loophole in import tax laws. Lawmakers have called for an investigation into alleged use of forced labor.
Is it wrong to buy from Shein? Yes, it is wrong for consumers who prioritize sustainability, ethical labor practices, and responsible consumption to buy from Shein. Supporting brands with transparent and ethical practices might align better with their values.
Inconsistent Quality: While Shein offers some high-quality items, the overall quality can be hit or miss. Some items may exceed expectations, while others may fall short in terms of fabric, construction, or durability.
In its pursuit of cost-cutting production, SHEIN has faced allegations of exploiting labor in developing countries. Unsafe conditions, underpaid workers, and unchecked working hours paint a grim picture of this industry's underbelly.
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.
Shein is owned by parent company Nanjing Lingtian Information Technology, although the company's ownership is frequently branded a mystery. It remains a private company, with four major shareholders so far: JAFCO Asia, IDG Capital, Sequoia Capital China, and Tiger Global Management.
Their direct-to-consumer model, minimal overhead costs, cost-effective marketing strategy, fast fashion business model, global manufacturing and shipping, and economies of scale all contribute to their ability to offer products at lower prices compared to traditional retailers.
Shein aims to offer up-to-date and relevant styles at competitive prices. If consumers like a dress from Zara, they can find a similar style from Shein at approximately 70% of Zara's price. Its ability to provide such low prices is attributed to its supply chain, business model, and trade policies.
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.
Artists have filed a racketeering lawsuit accusing it of stealing designs. A congressional report says Shein abuses a loophole in import tax laws. Lawmakers have called for an investigation into alleged use of forced labor.
'We cannot stand idly by while citizens' health is at risk. ' Children's products sold by fast fashion behemoth Shein have been found to contain toxic substances hundreds of times above acceptable levels, researchers say.
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.
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