Shein: Public Reaction

 It is nearly impossible to find literature that paints Shein in a positive light. Many blogs and reporters are against the practices of the company, going as far as saying, "Yes, it is wrong for consumers who prioritize sustainability, ethical labor practices, and responsible consumption to buy from Shein." A blog analyzing the public outlook on the company describes it as "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." After constant factual criticism, Shein continues to deny or, in some cases, ignore serious allegations, further damaging their public brand image.

The Eco-Stylist blog focusing on Shein, titled "How Ethical is Shein? Is Shein Bad for the Environment? Let's Discuss" continues to point out the major ethical flaws and lies present in the Shein business model. This blog writer points out the numerous lies Shein tells the press in order to curb negative media about them. One specific example is the comparison of Shein states regarding the treatment of employees to the truth, Shein states they treat "employees like family by providing industry-leading working conditions. From offering above-average salaries and benefits to building state-of-the-art factories and offices, we make sure everyone can work in a safe, clean, happy, and productive environment." The blog author refutes this claim saying "Not only does Shein lack supporting evidence of fair working conditions, but recent research proves that it is a lie, with Shein factory workers clocking in up to 75 hours per week!". This directly refutes Shein's claim while citing research done by the public eye who spoke to multiple Chinese Shein manufacturing employees and others who went undercover to view the factories. Additionally, there is no evidence that Shein has "state-of-the-art factories" as many of these factories are just overworked fabric workers using a sewing machine. 

Politicians and regulatory agencies have also been loud regarding Shein's attempt to have an IPO in the United States. A House of Representatives panel has been investigating the company, for the last 6 months, after hearing expert testimony that the company was sourcing cotton and additional materials from the Xinjiang region in China. Bloomberg later confirmed some fabrics in the clothing do come from the region using lab testing. Additionally, sixteen US state attorney generals urged the SEC, specifically Gary Gensler the chair of the SEC, to verify that Shein does not use forced labor from the Xinjiang region.  The contents of the letter include, "It is apparent that Shein is attempting to launch an initial public offering before the end of this calendar year. An IPO of this magnitude- involving a foreign-owned company that is facing credible concerns about its core business practices-cannot move forward on self-certification alone." The attorney generals are correct in their concerns about Shein being an unreliable "self-certification" company. Time and time again Shein has shown itself to only care about the bottom line, acting in positive ways only if absolutely necessary. 

Bailey Prado, an independent clothing designer from southern California, recently gained attention due to an ABC news nightline broadcast. Prado claims that Shein has stolen over forty designs from her, providing evidence of their shockingly similar, but much cheaper designs on the website. Bailey has reached out both personally and legally to Shein in an attempt to have these items taken down, but the process takes too long and requires financing she does not have. Additionally, when reached for comment, Shein states, "Shein takes all claims of infringement seriously. It is not our intent to infringe anyone's valid intellectual property and it is not our business model to do so." Shein stealing Prado's designs makes it incredibly difficult to make sales due to the significantly lower price, but also quality, offered by Shein. Although Shein states that design theft is not part of their business model, the over fifty prior lawsuits, not including those who cannot afford to sue, seem to be a pattern that shows otherwise. 

Sources:

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/29/business/politicians-sec-shein-letter-ipo.html

https://www.greenhive.io/blog/why-is-shein-bad#:~:text=People%20say%20Shein%20is%20unethical%20due%20to%20concerns%20about%20its,practices%2C%20and%20alleged%20design%20theft.

https://www.eco-stylist.com/its-time-to-find-ethical-alternatives-to-fast-fashion-giant-shein/

https://www.cnbc.com/2023/10/19/shein-ipo-fast-fashion-brand-must-clear-hurdles-before-going-public.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqLc4togpCU