BA1b How harmful is Shein to the environment?
In 2008, Chris Xu created Shein. The company was first founded in China, then they grew worldwide. It started out as an order fulfilment company before evolving into a clothes retailer, sourcing its merchandise from Guangzhou wholesale markets for extremely cheap prices. The combination of low priced and stylish products helped the brand gain popularity as people could spend less and receive more clothing items. Shein now delivers to more than 220 nations and regions, which is more than most retailers around the world. Zara is present in 96 nations, and H&M, operates in 74 nations, in contrast to the fast-growing online retailer.
Shein offers clothing for less than £2 a piece, which is significantly cheaper than most high street brands. Undoubtedly, the brand’s affordability is its main selling point. Along with constant discount codes and sales, the brand rakes in money. The business now offers more than only womenswear since it was founded back in 2008. Menswear, children’s clothing, accessories, and even home goods are now available from Shein at incredibly low prices. Shein, however, is not without flaws. Over time, it has encountered a lot of controversy.
There is little indication that the company is making any significant efforts to lessen its massive impact on the environment, other from the occasional use of eco-friendly materials. Shein is doing nothing about harmful chemicals, carbon emissions, or microplastics. Additionally, by simply existing, companies who produce cheap, poorly manufactured clothing in vast quantities support a culture of disposable apparel. Clothing created by Shein is filling up landfills all over the world, because of its cheap quality many charity shops will not take their clothing.
Again, aside from auditing a small portion of its supply chain, Shein is making no progress on improving its labour conditions. Workers should have the right to a living wage, collective bargaining, an abuse-free work environment, and some protection from the effects of COVID-19. It should come as no surprise that Shein makes as much effort for people as it does for the planet.
Shein products do not contain any leather, fur, down, angora, or skin from exotic animals, which is a good start. However, it uses exotic animal hair and wool without citing the sources, does not seem to have a policy to reduce animal suffering, and does not even track any animal goods to the beginning of the production process. Certainly, the retailer could do better in this case.
The online retailer is undoubtedly a social media whiz among millions. Before enlisting celebrities like Katy Perry, Lil Nas X, and Hailey Bieber, it hired micro-influencers to promote Shein’s products on their networks, which really help boost sales.
Shein is extremely well-liked by Gen Z consumers, and many of them post TikTok’s of their Shein purchases or comparisons of Shein and Zara goods, which have comparable designs but vastly different prices, which is good marketing for the brand.
Overall, Shein is a huge fast fashion online retailer, ultimately this is doing more damage than good, trends and micro trends are constantly changing and Shein keeps up with all of them. So, if you are thinking of buying cheap clothing, avoid Shein.
Bibliography
- Fashion, E. (2023) Shein: What you need to know about the brand’s social and environmental impact, MAKE FASHION BETTER. MAKE FASHION BETTER. Available at: https://www.makefashionbetter.com/blog/shein-what-you-need-to-know-about-the-brands-social-and-environmental-impact (Accessed: February 25, 2023).
- How ethical is Shein? (2023) Good On You. Available at: https://goodonyou.eco/how-ethical-is-shein/ (Accessed: February 25, 2023).
- Ferrer, M.de (2022) How are Shein Hauls Making our planet unlivable?, euronews. Available at: https://www.euronews.com/green/2022/10/17/how-are-shein-hauls-making-our-planet-unlivable (Accessed: February 25, 2023).
