The Rise of Shein

Shein describes itself as “an international B2C fast fashion e-commerce platform (that) focuses on women's wear, but also offers men's apparel, children's clothes, accessories, shoes, bags and other fashion items” and it upholds the philosophy that "everyone can enjoy the beauty of fashion."

The company was founded and is based in China, but the firm targets customers in the US, European and Australian market shipping worldwide. The main appeal of Shein seems to be its wide range of products with anything from clothing to anti-slip finger covers (whatever they are!)

Click this link to see some of their crazy listings currently available The Tab article

Since its inital creation in October 2008 Shein has endured its fair share of scandals starting with its use of sweatshops. Fast fashion is notorious for using sweatshops—which subject workers to horrible conditions and long hours for meager pay—as well as child labor. In June 2022, videos went viral on social media claiming that Shein employees were hiding messages in the clothes they produced.

On top of the allegations within the company fast fashion itself is one of modern days biggest contributors to environmental poluttion. According to the Institute of Sustainable Communication, the clothing industry is the world's second-largest clean water polluter.

Here are some of the main issues

• PLASTIC FIBRES THREATEN MARINE LIFE
• FASHION HAS A COLOSSAL CARBON FOOTPRINT
• PESTICIDES POISON THE PLANET
• WASTE IS CLOGGING THE LAND
• WATER POLLUTION THROUGH DUMPING UNTREATED DYES AND CHEMICALS
• SWEATSHOPS VIOLATE BOTH HUMAN AND ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS

While the allure of cheap fashion is enticing it is important for us to consider the potential consequences of our role in the fast fashion epidemic and ask ourselves are the items in my shopping bag really worth me contributing to the growing wealth of such a problematic corporation like Shein. While Shein has grown through social media platfroms such as Tik Tok, thrifting and sustainable shopping has also gained popularity as a 'trend' of sorts hopefully one that will outlive and dominate over Sheins new found popularity.

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Tell us what you think Leave a comment bellow let us know what you think about Shein and fast fashion will you be shopping more sustainably? Or do you already?