Shein re-launches in India amidst rising sustainability, plagiarism allegations

Amidst growing calls for its re-launch, online Chinese clothing giant Shein has decided to make a comeback in India. As per a News18 report, the e-tailer is now available on the Amazon Prime platform under the ‘Seller’ category. Marked specifically under ‘Prime Day launch’ Shein has, until now, recorded over 500 searches for its products on the platform. Founded in 2008, the China-based retail platform enjoys immense popularity across the world. It is present in over 220 countries and has a brand value of over $30 billion, says a Bloomberg report.

Low on Sustainability

As per a report by the Indigo Digital, Shein launches around 2,000 clothing items on its platform every day. It has the latest designs and styles and one of the quickest turnaround times. However, the retailer grossly lags on sustainability front. Its sustainability count is zero, says a new report by Remake. It is yet to reinvent its destructive production practices.

Also, Shein’s website does not address the problems with its business model, says the Remake report. The e-commerce company is also vague about its manufacturing processes and suppliers. Its statement in the California Transparency in Supply Ack link reveals the company conducts regular audits to address human trafficking and slavery risks in its supply chains. However, it does not provide a list of suppliers. Also, the standards set to measure sustainability are not disclosed.

Young consumers often overlook the devastating impact of fast fashion brands on the environment. Though Shein’s environmental impact in India is not estimated to be as huge as in other countries, the company still needs to address these issues, says the Remake report. The analyst also rebuts Shein’s claim of minimizing environmental damage by producing lesser goods as a wild claim. According to Remake, the e-tailer produces thousands of styles every week. Making only 50-100’ pieces in each style still amounts to hundreds of thousands of garments produced on an alarmingly regular basis, it says.

Shein has often been accused of plagiarism by various designers and small businesses. The e-commerce platform was started by Chris Xu, an American-born Chinese graduate from the Washington University. It was originally called SheInside but the name was shortened to Shein in 2015.