by Lucid C
In 2020, a site called Shein blew up. Gorgeous clothes for low prices? Delivered right to your doorstep? It was so popular during the pandemic when people making less money due to less hours could still shop online the way they used to. But surely, something this good has to
come with a catch, right? It does.
And it’s worse than you think.
According to Business of Apps, Sheins users skyrocketed to an estimated 15.5 million in 2020, reportedly 3 times more than 2019. Their sales mirror jump in users, their 2019 revenue of 3.15 billion dollars being put to shame by their 2020 sales adding up to 9.81 billion dollars. Business of Apps goes much further into Shein’s past, and I highly recommend reading if you’re interested.
Writing in 2025 makes me pretty late to this issue, but sales are just as steady as ever, and it’s important to spread this information, especially to people who may use the site more often; kids with limited disposable income who want to keep up on trends. And because Shein adds, on average, 2,000 new items to their site everyday, it’s easier for many to keep up with the ever-changing trends of today.
But what makes Shein so problematic? Uniform Market reports that “the U.S. The Department of Labor found that 80% of contractors were breaking laws on minimum wage and overtime pay… They caught one contractor paying garment workers only $1.58 per hour in a state where the minimum wage was $15 per hour.” The US defines wage theft as a felony if the theft exceeds $2,000, and the US collected $892,000 in wage theft from Shein contractors.
Additionally, two contractors were found using child labor in 2023. BBC wrote that Shein, “found two cases of child labour in its supply chain last year as it tightens scrutiny of the companies that make the clothes it sells.” While, yes, Shein getting on top of their contractors is a good thing, the continued problems with their contractors questions the thoroughness of Shein’s background checks and employment strategies. And worse than their employment are their ideas, or rather lack thereof.
Also in 2023, three independent designers filed lawsuits against Shein for stealing their original designs. NPR says, “Three artists — Krista Perry, Larissa Martinez and Jay Baron — allege Shein made exact copies of their work without their knowledge…” This can be devastating for small artists, as their hard work and creative designs are being sold at a much lower price; and the artists are making zero profit. The NPR article also states that, “Shein has faced several accusations of stealing designs in the past few years, including a crochet sweater, an enamel pin and earrings.” It may not seem like much, but small business owners and artists depend on their sales to make money, and a cheaper competitor with the same designs will obliterate these artists from the market.
Cheap clothing and accessories are hard to come by. And in this time of crippling inflation, we as a society are grasping onto any inexpensive, enjoyable luxury we can get our dirty little peasant hands on. And as the saying goes, “there’s no ethical consumption under capitalism.” But I challenge you to think about this; how much money would you save monthly if you settled with a few sustainable outfits? Will your life really fall apart if you don’t buy that cheap (and let’s be honest, low quality) sweater right now? Support sustainable fashion - there may not be a world in which you have such a luxury soon.
Shop sustainably:
Neococo (editor’s personal favorite)