Shein, China’s fast-fashion giant, continues to attract shoppers despite facing criticism over its labor practices. The online retailer has been accused of exploiting workers with 75-hour workweeks, a practice that contravenes Chinese labor laws. However, most customers remain unaffected by these allegations.
Emily, a 21-year-old student who spends around £20 a month on Shein, says the quality is often poor but she can find what she’s looking for. She prefers to buy from Shein because of its affordability, which is significantly lower than that of rival fast-fashion brands like H&M and Zara.
Shein’s global sales have reached $36.9 billion (£30.2 billion) last year, with profits in the UK doubling to over £24 million. The firm sells thousands of different clothing lines at prices below £10 and releases new designs quickly to keep up with consumer demand.
However, the company has faced scrutiny over its environmental impact and allegations that it uses cotton produced using forced labor. Shein has denied using such cotton and claims to be investing tens of millions of dollars in strengthening governance and compliance.
Experts say that affordability will continue to outweigh ethical concerns for many customers. Younger shoppers often prioritize buying affordable clothes, especially when they have limited disposable income due to school or low-paying jobs.
To address the labor practices issue, some experts suggest that Shein could pay its suppliers more, which would allow them to pay workers a higher wage. Alternatively, the firm could make less profit, but this is unlikely to happen given its high sales figures and ambitions for a stock market flotation in the UK.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy5k3v6x6vxo