
Shein (pronounced as ‘She-In’) is a fast fashion brand, based in South China. If you’re not familiar with Shein yet, here’s a little introduction.
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In this post, I’m listing 6 reasons we should all avoid shopping from this brand and I’m hoping it will inspire you to learn more about sustainable fashion and how to make more conscious shopping decisions. So you can imagine how big Shein’s contribution is to the pollution in the fashion industry. They control 28% of the fast fashion market in the US alone. With the extremely low prices and bad quality clothes, Shein is actually one of the most harmful brands I’ve ever come across. The fashion industry is the second largest polluter in the world, and Shein is currently the biggest fast fashion retailer. Especially in the first year of the pandemic when a lot of small businesses drowned, Shein was thriving and became the most-mentioned brand on social media platforms like TikTok. Here are the biggest ways it impacts the planet.Since being launched in 2008, Shein has completely taken over the world of fast fashion. The fashion industry emits more carbon than international flights and maritime shipping combined.This article was updated to include the author's thoughts about the AliExpress blazer, which arrived after the story was initially published. The thoughts expressed are those of the author(s). I think people scrolling through online fast-fashion brands have to be OK with taking a risk - from being deceived by an item that appears differently in person, to dealing with sometimes-unreliable and delayed shipping.īut with a slew of other shopping options - like rental services and resale shopping - I think people should consider them all before getting sucked into a social media ad.įor one thing, I'd trade the hassle of waiting for a delivery and returning packages for the dressing-room line any day. While some online-only stores may not be the most efficient places to build a wardrobe from the ground-up, for a one-off, trendy piece, it's clearly an alluring option for some shoppers. The experiment as a whole made me see why people order from these types of websites. The fabric felt thin but soft, in my opinion.

There were loose threads on the garment when I took it out of the package. Shipping was $8.73, and when I placed the order, the website said the package would arrive in five to 10 days.Ĭlothing quality: The blazer appeared less structured than in the picture online. Shipping: The package arrived almost three weeks after I ordered it. I was not sure if the package would arrive due to the lack of responsiveness. However, with some TLC from a steamer or iron, this could be a nice addition to a casual outfit.ĪliExpress ordering experience: I was disappointed in the lack of tracking updates and failure of the site to respond to my dispute. It didn't have a button, and when I took it out of the package, I noticed loose threads near the lapel. To me, it felt more like a duster or thin jacket than a durable blazer. I wouldn't necessarily pair this blazer with an uber-professional ensemble as, in my opinion, it didn't feel very structured or polished. the blazer in real life.ĪliExpress Caroline Fox/Business Insider I also give the outfit credit for being the exact same color shown online. Shipping: The package arrived in seven days with standard shipping, which was $8.99.Ĭlothing quality: I was pleasantly surprised at the softness of the fabric. The shop had clothes that fit into the fast-fashion price range, as well as other garments that were more mid-priced.

The websites I ordered from offered generous return policies, and even if a shopper opts to keep the item and wear it once, it wasn't a huge financial investment.īoohoo ordering experience: I thought the website was easy to navigate, and I didn't struggle finding a wide range of sizes in most items. And while it's not something I'd wear (in public) again, I started to understand why some people may use these clothing sites as a way to test out a more daring outfit. When I placed the order, I knew this look would be a wild card. Wearing this outfit, I felt I looked similar enough to the original photo - but noticeably less glamorous.įor me, this turquoise ensemble was a reminder that not everything you see online is a true picture of reality.

It often indicates a user profile.ī Caroline Fox/Business Insider Account icon An icon in the shape of a person's head and shoulders.
