An Analysis of Shein

Over the past decade, shopping has become less of a chore and more of a hobby to young adults. People can browse on a phone or computer from the comfort of their own home instead of spending hours at a crowded mall. According to a study from Pew Research Center, 76% of Americans regularly use a phone when online shopping, which has made business soar for online clothing brands. 

This is the case for one brand in particular: Shein. Started in 2008, Shein is a Chinese company that uses third-party manufacturers to ship its products to over 200 countries. As of April 2022, the brand’s estimated value was well over 100 billion dollars according to EuroNews Green.

Shein’s popularity has soared with the help of social media influencer endorsements, as well as receiving praise from French fashion magazines for having size inclusive labels (offering up to 4XL). In 2019, Shein even had its first fashion show during Paris Fashion Week where they released their designer collection: SHEIN x Paris Fashion Week Collection.

Many students at Orem High have had experience with the clothing brand. Brooklyn Gleed, a junior at Orem High, has found that Shein yields positive results. “Returns have been easy and it’s affordable and cheap for the most part,” she said.

In addition, Abby Hill, a junior at Orem had made the occasional Shein purchase, although she noticed some flaws with the material used. Hill said, “I bought a pink swimsuit that was pretty inexpensive, but after I was swimming around I started to see pink dye floating in the pool.”

“It’s either high quality for a low price, or low quality for high price.”

All of this said, the main attraction of Shein is its prices. Near-designer brands offered affordably are what make it such a standout clothing website. However, much of the low costs are due to the production of fast fashion.

Fast fashion is the cheap result of ideas from runways, designer brands, celebrity culture and small businesses. It takes consumer demands and produces them as fast as possible while trends are still at high popularity. In other words, fast fashion takes advantage of the latest looks knowing that once people buy this clothing, it will most likely be discarded after only a few wears. This toxic system of shopping is one of the biggest polluters in the world, says Good On You Eco.

Even after considering the environmental impacts of fast fashion, there are still ethical problems with such brands; much of Shein’s controversy is over work culture and labor abuse. According to CNN, audits carried out by independent experts said, “Employees at one factory were working a maximum of 13.5 hours per day, with at least two to three days off per month.  At another factory, staff were found to be working 12.5 hours a day with no fixed schedule for days off.”

Shein has since made and revised a supplier code of conduct that addresses and bans any unethical practices and it is available to the public on their website.

The wide spectrum of opinions about the website is something that keeps the clothing brand relevant. Shein seems to thrive regardless of controversies or criticisms and often embodies the phrase, “There’s no such thing as bad news.”

Lilly Benson, a senior at Orem, said that because of its fast shipping and easy checkout, “It’s kind of like a last resort clothing option.” 

“It’s either high quality for a low price, or low quality for high price,” said Benson. 

Shein’s brand will likely continue to be controversial as long as consumers partake in fast fashion. Cheap clothing, low prices, fast shipping, and minimal checkout prices are the benefits that outweigh consequences like water contamination, housing displacements, habitat loss, toxic waste, and worker abuse. 

Trendy clothes with low prices will always be irresistible, but if you have the chance, it doesn’t hurt to try more sustainable and ethical alternatives. 

Try thrifting, researching trustworthy brands, shopping with small businesses, or taking a look in your own closet before buying something new.