By: Addie Speidel
Shein is an online fashion company that sells a vast selection of clothing, but it has caused people to ask questions about its prices, quality, and working conditions. In 2021, allegations regarding forced child labor, sustainability, and false advertisement, were raised on TikTok.
Much of the evidence regarding Shein using child labor was speculation. Many fast fashion shops, like Shein, are known for using sweatshops and child labor. One of Shein’s top competitors, Fashion Nova, was using underpaid labor in Los Angeles factories in 2019, paying them $2.27 an hour, far below the minimum wage. Shein released a statement after accusations surfaced on the app TikTok, saying it "never engages in forced child labor." Its website also states that it supports “fair pay for all,” but its labor practices are still a mystery to the public (Fuller). By adding an average of 1,000 new items to their store every day, questions regarding the working conditions of employees are valid.
Shein does not share detailed information about its carbon footprint or the chemicals it uses in its products. It revealed goals to use more renewable energy but no specifics regarding baseline greenhouse gas emissions after Shein commented on looking forward to sharing them with the public. Shein has stated that they are starting to slowly shift towards using more sustainable materials, including recycled polyester in their clothing and recycled materials for their packaging. However, just 64 out of the 52,000 dresses currently listed on the site are made with recycled materials. No matter if the clothes are made with recycled plastic or if it is established that it tries to reduce waste and energy consumption, the rate it produces makes it impossible to be a sustainable company.
Shein’s clothing typically stays under the $15 mark and is considered a great place to fill the closet with trendy clothes for a low amount of money. Shein also is a major fuel for fast fashion. With so many different styles and products on the website, people can buy as much clothing as they want, especially when their style matures or the trends start to shift. But knowing the quality of Shein's clothing, shopping locally or from websites with reliable quality might also help people become more conscious of their spending. As an opinion, it also teaches people to make smart purchases. Buying one piece of quality clothing could save money in the long run.
Altogether, Shein is a booming fashion website with a large variety of clothing and products to select from. Until specific details are released about what happens behind closed doors, customers can only assume the quality of the company.