From luxurious hotel-style duvet covers to relaxed linen options. But its unfair to expect consumers alone to fix this system, which thanks to decades of poor U.S. policy choices is set up for bad players like Shein to succeed. i literally just had to whittle down a review and the "inappropriate" word ended up being "junk". This is alarming as it not only promotes disposable clothing among its young customers but also adds to the increasing pile of textile waste generated by the fashion industry. Joel Shapiro, 18, Rising Freshman at Boston University, Boston, MA, I think Shein selling Islamic prayer mats and swastika necklaces is extremely offensive considering the great value and importance they have in their respective cultures and religions. The swastika is celebrated and used during special occasions like Diwali, Ganesh Chaturvedi, and Navaratri. But everything comes at a cost and Sheins too-good-to-be-true prices are indeed too good to be true. However, some misunderstanding may have been caused by this labels wording, Shein said. But that doesnt mean consumers dont have options. My first impulse was to throw all of them away, which says a lot for someone like me who is conscious of living a low waste lifestyle. The1st_TNTBOOM 7 mo. It remains one of the biggest fast-fashion companies in the world with a valuation greater than that of Zara and H&M combined. I strongly encourage you to check out these and other Made in USA brands if you are looking for better buying options. It sells clothes at alarmingly low prices and of very dubious quality if your . It is unfair that we have to give up a symbol that is important to our culture just because someone else exploited it as a symbol of hate. The lopsided trade deficit with China which came about thanks to U.S.-led efforts to admit China to the World Trade Organization in 2001 led to the loss of 3.7 million jobs between 2001 and 2018, along with tens of thousands of closed factories. Put simply, Shein produces an astounding number of items on a daily basisthe primary reason why the company has an unsustainable model. The more you know, Its probably the word suck. All about the workings of this global humanitarian organization, Who owns MSCHF? Discover affordable and fashionable women's clothing online at SHEIN.Free Shipping On Orders R1050+ Free Returns 1000+ New Arrivals Dropped Daily The company was reportedly working with about 2,000 Indian influencers alone before the Indian government banned the app in 2020 as a retaliatory move against China. A November 2021 investigation by Public Eye, for example, found people who make clothing for Shein working 11, 12, sometimes 13 hours a day, mostly 7 days a week, with no premium for overtime.. Unlike rugs that are used as decor, these mats are designed in rectangular shapes with Islamic symbols and sacred writings. The outlet sent an undercover worker to film inside two factories in Guangzhou that supply clothes to the fast fashion giant. Khadija Rizvi, 24, a journalism graduate student at the University of Salford posted on her instagram page about the prayer mats and her post went viral. Ultimately, I think it is okay for Shein to be selling Islamic prayer mats and swastika necklaces but they need to with cultural sensitivity and appreciation in mind, which involves advertising to the proper religious audiences (Muslims and Hindus/Buddhists/Jains, respectively) in the titles and descriptions of these items; because they have not done so, it currently stands as cultural appropriation and hateful expression. There's definitely a bias against China and the perception of clothes coming from there. Not only is the process of making all of those throw-away clothes damaging it takes 3,000 liters of water to make one cotton skirt but the clothing itself is also bad for the environment, containing plastic microfibers that pollute the ocean. But the manufacturers rapid use of virgin polyester and large consumption of oil churns out the same amount of CO2 as approximately 180 coal-fired power plants, according to Synthetics Anonymous 2.0, a report published on fashion sustainability. SHEIN has a consumer rating of 2.69 stars from 4,126 reviews indicating that most customers are generally dissatisfied with their purchases. Every mat has the illustration of a mihrab, a niche in the wall of the mosque. The second episode of Shein X 100K Challenges launches on Sunday, streaming via their app and on YouTube, and follows 30 designers competing to show their collection at Shein fashion week in Los . In addition, Muslims wearing this necklaceneed to be careful because they cant enter bathrooms with it on. It was first introduced to European cultures by German archeologist Heinrich Schliemann in the 19th century and was later adopted by other European scholars as an auspicious symbol of good luck. Bowman ultimately decided not to sue Shein. The swastika should never be sold as just some necklace because most people know why the swastika is offensive and what it represents to the Jewish people; the slaughtering of innocent lives because of one persons decision. The prayer mats actually need to be put in a clean place and used as a regular place to connect with God. Shein has repeatedly come under fire for just about everything you can do wrong with a company, including poor working conditions, high levels of toxic chemicals in its clothing, copying independent designers' items, and mishandling customer data. Shein has been accused of copying the designs of several smaller fashion brands. Anonymous, 16, Rising Junior at Thomas S. Wootton High School, Rockville, MD, I dont think so. Are these messages on Shein tags and packaging real? Lets talk about Shein, Recently, they have gotten backlash in selling products that are subject to misinterpretation and of cultural and religious appropriation. Shein's profile has risen dramatically over the past few years, growing by word-of-mouth via social media giant TikTok (another Made in China joint) and is especially popular among Gen Z. Especially with the swastika necklace, the significance to the Jewish community was overlooked. Now, the quality is usually much higher my American Giant hoodie has lasted for nearly 10 years now but theres no question the cost premium gives importers like Shein a distinct advantage. Other well-known brands such as Ralph Lauren, Stussy, and Deckers Outdoor Corporation (owner of the UGGS footwear brand) followed suit and filed copyright infringement complaints against Shein for stolen designs. The companys unconventional structure, Who owns Bape? It is beyond appalling to see that Shein had dared to sell such important mats of Islam to the general public as regular house decor items. They didnt remotely bother trying to change anything, she told The Guardian. The former quarterback is reportedly considering.comedy? I just left a review on Shein and the word they didn't like was "copy". 14 Makeup Bags That Will Help You Get Your Life Together, The Best Street Style From New York and Milan Fashion Weeks. These necklaces were mistaken as a symbol of the Hitler regime because the product did not include any description or explanation. Shein was also called out for selling sleepwear that imitated cultural clothing on white models. Not only does SHEIN practice cultural appropriation, but the brand is neither environment friendly nor ethically-sourced. Wired reported in May that the company claims 28% of the U.S. fast fashion market, and is valued at $100 million, higher than the combined worth of mainstays I've seen plenty of post just like this where it negative and will draw away possible costumers. Some may argue that the swastika symbol was targetted towards western countries, and hence the symbol was associated with the Hakenkreuz, the Nazi symbol; however, it is important to understand that there is a large population of Hindus, Buddhists, and Jains living in these western countries, who will always respect this holy symbol. It is frustrating that many people who are not Hindus, Buddhists, or Jains only associate the swastika symbol with anti-semitism or the Nazis. Shein tags allegedly reading "help me" have left customers concerned. Shein needs to understand that freedom needs to come with responsibility and sensibility to different communities of society. The whole working conditions are horrendous, she told her TikTok followers. Shein has come forward to apologize for the necklace, acknowledging their ignorance toward Jewish people. These exploitative manufacturing processes go against the Shein Supplier Code of Conduct, one of which says: Supplier partners shall arrange working hours reasonably and shall comply with local laws and regulations.. But in my view, thats where Sheins clothing belongs: in the bin.. But recently, customers have been growing increasingly concerned over alleged forced labor at Shein, as photos of purported Shein tags reading help me and other cries for aid have been circulating the internet. Privacy Policy and Free Shipping On Orders $49+ Free Returns 1000+ New Arrivals Dropped Daily Get down to basics with our collection of soft, casual tees and T-shirts from SHEIN! In October, on the heels of the company coming under fire for fuelling wasteful consumption, Shein announced it would spend $7.6 million on a partnership with the nonprofit, Apparel Impact Institute, which works with manufacturers to set and implement energy efficiency programs. Therefore, many Jewish Americans and Jews were offended when they saw this necklace on sale. In a recent 12-month period, the Gap listed roughly 12,000 different items on its website, H&M had about 25,000, and Zara had some 35,000. A quick peruse of the companys U.S. site finds most items are priced under $20; many come in at under $10. The company also stands accused of ripping off others designs, from big names like Ralph Lauren to independent artists. Copyright 2023 Green Matters. Sheins CEO, Molly Miao has stated that each item is produced only in small numbers, between 50-100 pieces a day, before it becomes popular and is then mass-produced. SheIn is a fast-fashion clothing brand based in China and is known for its cheap pricing and a massive selection of products (they even have home items). Around 170 million children involved in children labor, in which many work in textile and fashion companies. As your editor I'd suggest a rewrite. Through Teen Lenses: Do you think Shein selling Islamic prayer mats and swastika necklaces is appropriate? Sheins rapid and mass production of thousands of different garment styles in a day is not only seen as exploitative to its customers but also harmful to the environment. Recently, a number of TikTok creators posted videos compiling photos of purported fast fashion tags and packaging with concerning messages from factory workers. Moreover, the above report mentioned that a majority of Sheins return orders were directed to the landfill instead of being put back in circulation. Jamie Reyer, 16, Rising Junior at Thomas S. Wootton High School, Rockville, MD, I definitely dont think its okay, especially in the format SHEIN is selling them in. The swastika is a symbol that has different meanings throughout Jewish, Buddhist, and Hindu communities, which should not be used as a fashionable statement. It shouldnt be sold as some throw rug just because it has a nice pattern. Religion or any kind of offensive item should never be sold as just some normal thing for profits. A post shared by Green Matters (@greenmatters). #fyp #shein #sheinhelpme #scary #childlabour #help #helpthesepeople, In another video posted today to the companys official TikTok account, Shein acknowledged the confusion surrounding the product label, reminding customers that their intention was to provide instructions on using a softener when washing the garmet for the first time.. Sheins clothing isnt just bad for the planet, it also is potentially toxic. Failure to act will allow Shein and others to continue to steal designs, and then use forced labor and sweatshops to flood the earth with cheap clothing that is irrevocably damaging the planet. SHEIN ranks 55th among Women's Clothing sites. Shein is the leader of the ultra fast fashion pack, but its hardly alone in its bad practices (looking at you, Amazon). And Shein confirmed that the Need your help care tag was just a poorly worded label asking customers to help keep the fabric soft by using a softer detergent. Their scale of output is unsustainable for our planet and its finite resources. But the center of its marketing strategy is its use of influencers and their #SHEINhaul videos: the company has partnered with countless micro-celebrities, fashion bloggers, and reality show contestants who show off their Shein deliveries. As fair fashion campaigner Venetia La Manna told Green Matters last year, there is zero evidence to suggest that [Shein pays] their workers fair living wages. And on top of that, the environmental impact of clothing that is shipped halfway across the world, is made from unsustainable materials, and is essentially disposable is extremely high. For instance, the garment workers were found to be working 12 hours a day with only one day off in a month. As per Reuters, Sheins lack of transparency on the matter is concerning and potentially violates the UKs Modern Slavery Act 2015, which combats forced labor. Please read our Terms and Conditions and this Policy before accessing or using our Services. I might not have experienced Shein but Im equally guilty of buying through similar brands like Zara and H&M. Georgia Portogallo, a 21-year-old British influencer with over 200,000 followers on Instagram and TikTok, released a video stating that would no longer be working with the brand until its working conditions had changed shortly after appearing on the Channel 4 documentary. I truly believe in buying American and can give you a whole host of reasons why doing so is better than ordering a cheap T-shirt from places like Shein. It does not help that the reviews of Sheins clothing on the Trustpilot website are polarizing with some customers having found good quality products while others shared opposite views. Additionally, an image of a care tag that includes the phrase need your help, amidst the text advising customers on how to wash the garment, has been circulating on the internet. With a million followers, the news took off like wildfire. In an interview with Green Matters, Venetia La Manna, the co-founder of the Remember Who Made Them campaign that advocates for the welfare of garment workers, said: The main issue with Shein is their sheer lack of ethics. In 2018, the Los Angeles-based independent brand Valfr took legal action against Shein for selling clothes with identical artwork. By supporting fast fashion companies, including Shein, childrens rights are at stake. By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy and to receive email correspondence from us. But according to Snopes, the phrasing of need your help is just an awkwardly worded translation of washing instructions for the garment. Inappropriate just means you said negative things about their product and they are acting like babies. Now, the company has fired back at the accusations, and it brought the receipts. Furthermore, Shein sells Indian/Pakistani Kurtis and salwar sets as Longline Tops & Pant Sets. They also use white models to showcase these clothes. On July 9th, 2020, Shein was also found to be selling a necklace with a swastika pendant. He added: Its on Shein to do the due diligence because until they stop running their business this way, theyre just continually hurting small businesses and people trying to support themselves.. Over the years, Shein went from being a low-cost Chinese apparel merchant to a global, online-only fashion juggernaut, climbing in sales from $10 billion in 2020 (according to Bloomberg) to a whopping $100 billion in 2022. Now, I work for the Alliance for American Manufacturing, so of course I am here to tout the greatness of buying American-made clothing. These prayer mats should NOT have shoes placed on them. Global humanitarian organization, Who owns MSCHF at stake in 2018, the Angeles-based! Of items on a daily basisthe primary reason why the company has an unsustainable model factory... One day off in a month the phrasing of need your help is an. Or using our Services just because it has a nice pattern used during special occasions like Diwali Ganesh! Like Diwali, Ganesh Chaturvedi, and it brought the receipts but according to,... Appropriation, but the brand is neither environment friendly nor ethically-sourced rug because! 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Ripping off others designs, from big names like Ralph Lauren to independent artists off. Too good to be put in a month with their purchases inappropriate '' ended. The more you know, Its probably the word suck Shein said the Guardian to different communities society... Come in at under $ 20 ; many come in at under $ 10 sleepwear that cultural. Agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy and to receive email correspondence from us sells Kurtis. Has come forward to apologize for the necklace, acknowledging their ignorance toward people. Factory workers has the illustration of a mihrab, a niche in the world a... The garment workers were found to be selling a necklace with a valuation greater than that of and. Thing for profits are at stake understand that freedom needs to come with responsibility and sensibility to communities! Had to whittle down a review and the `` inappropriate '' word ended up being `` junk '',... 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