Shein is a fast-fashion clothing company that has grown widely among teens over the past few years. Reasons for this consist of unbelievably cheap prices, along with a seemingly endless selection of apparel.
Shein has recently been facing a lot of heat, receiving lawsuits from multiple name-brand businesses for possible copyright infringement.
“Three independent designers filed the lawsuit alleging that Shein sold ‘exact copies’ of their work, which they argue violates the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act,” said Solcyre Burga from TIME Magazine.
Another reason Shein is not particularly popular is because of allegations that they are in violation of child labor laws. According to an investigation that took place by a newspaper in the UK, “Shein workers work seven days a week, some getting a base salary of only $556 per month to make 500 pieces of clothing per day… that equates to earning two cents per item of clothing produced.”
There have been rumors all over social media that these lawsuits and allegations will cause Shein to shut down in 2024, but according to several recent news reports, these rumors seem to be false. Shein is currently privately owned, and in 2024 they are planning to switch to a public ownership.
“[Shein] has signed a long-term agreement with Authentic Brands and the Forever 21 brand to produce garments for women and men,” said Forbes Magazine.
It seems that their bad reputation is not going to lead to their downfall. A couple of weeks ago, there was even a Shein popup stand in the Sioux Falls Empire Mall.
The main reason for Shein’s popularity among teens is their extremely low prices. You are able to buy items that are nearly identical to the name-brand clothes for a fraction of the price. For example, one of the most popular items purchased from Shein is swimsuits. A swimsuit from a name-brand like Billabong or Triangl cost about $100. Alternatively, a swimsuit from Shein costs $6 to $10.
Despite their alleged copyright infringement and labor law violations, Shein’s popularity among teens appears to be keeping them in business. The rumors are not true, Shein will not be shutting down in 2024.
