Shein, with its gruelling hours and sometimes lower wages, may not be a source of comfort to all its workers. If shoppers repeatedly click on a certain dress, or spend longer looking at a wool sweater, the firm knows to ask factories to make more – and fast. “Unless you fully release your factory list, unless you make your supply chain more transparent to the public, then I think it’s going to be very challenging for Shein.” Once touted as among the world’s best fabric, Xinjiang’s cotton has fallen out of favour after allegations that it is produced using forced labour by people from the Muslim Uyghur minority – a charge that Beijing has consistently denied. The BBC understands that the company is keeping a closer eye on its suppliers ahead of plans to go public exchange rate online eur to usd on the London Stock Exchange.

Fifth generation takes on 122-year-old family firm

Shein has issued apologies for these offenses and made a “vow to do a much better job”. Additionally, the company revealed it “formed a product review ‎equiti prepaid card on the app store committee with staff from different cultures and religions” to avoid repeating past mistakes; however, they’ve continued to face accusations of insensitivity and appropriation. “Our artisans, all women in Nigeria, spend 4-5 days crocheting such beautiful piece of art. It’s quite disheartening to see such talent and hard work reduced to a machine made copy,” the brand wrote on Instagram back in July 2021. CBC reported that lead exposure can damage the heart, brain, kidneys, and reproductive system; and contamination can be especially harmful to infants and children, making the levels found in the children’s jacket that much more dangerous.

High levels of lead and phthalates have been found in Shein products

It predominantly sells clothing, as well as homewares, beauty products, and an increasing range of miscellaneous items. Sales are driven by heavy discounts – which pop up as soon as a user accesses the website or app – and extensive influencer marketing, as well as the sheer number of products available to browse. There’s a running, unproven accusation on TikTok that Shein depends on child labor. These comments usually appear on videos of Shein hauls or styling videos, in which users try to shame well-off creators for buying from a purportedly unethical company. To be clear, there is no evidence that Shein employs children or produces an unsafe labor environment, but the company has not publicly disclosed workers’ wages or hours. In August, Reuters reported that Shein has yet to disclose information about its working conditions and supply chain to the British government, which the retailer is required to do under UK law.

How to open a bank account in China as a foreigner

It has accelerated the “test and repeat” model, made famous by the likes of H&M and Zara owner Inditex. Just 6% of Shein’s inventory remains in stock for more than 90 days, the BBC understands. The Covid crisis provided the company with a sales boost, says Richard Lim, chief executive of independent consultancy Retail Economics.

2012: founding and early business model

• Note that the online storefront also rolls out sales promotions such as price discounts and special offers.
• It may bring more attention to the company’s operations and provide a boost for the UK economy, particularly as the London Stock Exchange has been struggling to attract fast-growing companies.
• In October 2021, CBC Marketplace conducted an investigation to identify potentially toxic chemicals in products from fast-fashion brands like Shein, Zaful, and AliExpress.
• Shein’s online presence has been a big driver of its success “as it boosts brand awareness and engagement”, says Emily Salter, a retail analyst at GlobalData.
• In China, however, LatePost reported that Shein has developed “a reputation for timely payment to factories,” which is a rarity in the country.
• In what author and Chinese technology expert Matthew Brennan has branded “real-time retail”, smaller companies along its supply chain are fed information from its in-house tools on what’s trending or how well certain products are performing.

The firm has promised to investigate such issues and says it strictly enforces a code of conduct, which all of its suppliers must sign up to. There are worries about the environmental impact of mass producing low-cost clothes, and the waste it creates. Shein, pronounced “she-in”, was set up in China in 2008 by entrepreneur Xu Yangtian and started out selling wedding dresses online. The Chinese-founded firm – which also sells a huge range of beauty and home products – doubled its profits to more than $2bn (£1.6bn) last year, making more than the Swedish fashion group H&M and the UK’s Primark and Next. It’s dark outside and workers are filing back into factories after their dinner for the final stretch. She admits the hours are long, but “we get on well with each other. We are like a family”.

Zara’s “go big” strategy

• By placing small orders from suppliers who both design and manufacturer items, it can get items on its virtual shelves in as little as a week, allowing it to capitalise on so-called micro-trends and encourage people to keep buying.
• In May 2023, the company raised $2 billion in funding and some sources say the company is eyeing an initial public offering as early as 2024, Bloomberg reported.
• It’s marketplace products soon took a turn in direction, changing into more of what Shein is today by selling cosmetics, shoes, purses, jewellery, and general fashionwear for both men and women.
• In a June report, they attributed much of the company’s success to its marketing prowess.
• “I started when Shein started. I witnessed its rise. To be honest, Shein is an awesome company in China. I think it will become stronger, because it pays on time. This is where it is most trustworthy.

Although the firm has paid out more than $1m (£741,000) to candlestick chart guide and documentation independent designers to date, Twitter still sees complaints from smaller businesses. Some claim that Shein has allegedly copied their designs and sold similar items at a lower cost. It has also been accused of copyright infringement and faces lawsuits from the likes of the maker of Dr Martens boots, although the e-retailer has previously denied any wrongdoing, external.

Shein sold wedding dresses before it became a fast-fashion retailer

At any one time, Shein has as many as 600,000 products for sale on its online platform. While the private company doesn’t disclose financial figures, data provider CB Insights estimates that sales topped 63.5bn yuan (£7.4bn/$10bn) in 2020. “This helped the online retailer grow its presence and reach a wider audience more quickly.” Steered by a mission to be a guiding star in the fashion industry, SHEIN is committed to catapulting fashion into the contemporary age. We wield the power of avant-garde technologies and refined processes, harnessing them in our design and sourcing strategies. This enables us to stay attuned to the ever-changing consumer preferences, craft fashionable merchandise swiftly, and expedite their journey to any corner of the globe.