To think Shein has upped it’s game

Off to look at yoghurt makers on Temu now thanks

Which is why the planet is doomed. It is possible to make ethical choices with little money.

• use markets for fruit and veg - little packaging and cheaper and better quality
• stop washing clothing that has only been worn once - saves water, energy, laundry powder and reduced wear and tear on clothes
• walk if you can
• if you can't walk it, can you cycle it?
• stop buying plastic packaged food wherever you can
• make your own yoghurt, cheap easy and less plastic
• turn the water off whilst you are lathering hair and body in the shower
• buy bar soap not gel, cheaper and lasts a lot longer
• use laundry sheets or powder that comes in cardboard
• stop buying new clothes, you can only wear one pair of jeans at a time etc etc

You're forcing your choices, which you believe to be the only correct choice, because that's an area of concern for you, one that's your battle you will pick. That, is absolutely fair enough (and genuinely: good for you) however, what you do not reserve the right to do is decide that other people have to also choose that as their hill to die on. They don't have to. And you don't get to dictate what they should and shouldn't do and make them feel like a lesser human for it.

I reiterate: I have done and continue to do good in the world. I'm satisfied that I'm a half decent person. With flaws, of course. I have to pick what hills I am willing to die on : and I'm afraid ethically sourced clothes (there aren't many if you look far enough into it ) are not my hill to die on. You can see that as wrong. Such is your right. But I don't have the capabilities or will to take on every problem. And I won't. I buy from SHEIN because on balance: it meets my needs.

I live in an area with a high eastern European immigrant population. Those Lithuanian, Romanian and polish workers work from 6am until 8pm on a little pay with poor breaks and no annual leave or sick pay. Many aren't here legally. They're standing all day and have back problems. They're sacked if they're off sick. It's effectively slave labour. I expect people still buy chicken in the supermarkets. It's all wrong. It's upsetting. There's so many examples like this. You can just keep adding and adding and adding to which cause you want to fight.

Yes because obviously people who have never had "personal upheaval" can choose not to shop at Shein or swap shower gel for bar soap (which is cheaper).

You are totally failing in making your justifications here.

Very judgmental comments and very wide of the mark unfortunately . . .

Tell me you're very middle class that's never dealt with a major personal problem in your life without telling me you're very middle class and have never had major personal/family/health major upheaval?

Thanks for your support. We can't all be eco warriors/ethical warriors. I'd rather speak to someone that is honest and gives a truthful answer than virtue signal. It'd be so much easier on here for me to give it all the 'right on' flannel

Which is why the planet is doomed. It is possible to make ethical choices with little money.

• use markets for fruit and veg - little packaging and cheaper and better quality
• stop washing clothing that has only been worn once - saves water, energy, laundry powder and reduced wear and tear on clothes
• walk if you can
• if you can't walk it, can you cycle it?
• stop buying plastic packaged food wherever you can
• make your own yoghurt, cheap easy and less plastic
• turn the water off whilst you are lathering hair and body in the shower
• buy bar soap not gel, cheaper and lasts a lot longer
• use laundry sheets or powder that comes in cardboard
• stop buying new clothes, you can only wear one pair of jeans at a time etc etc

This is really interesting. In my youth, I was very alternative, part of the lifestyle, clothes and everything else. Part of that was cultural. We didn’t just want to look alternative, we wanted to be alternative. And part of that was speaking up for the majority world, caring about the environment, speaking truth to power, protesting the mainstream zeitgeist.

Is it now just important to look alternative?

I tbink it's naive to believe clothes from high street shops do not originate from yhe same factories that produce for Temu and Shein.

Well said. Mumsnet is a bit of a middle class bubble sometimes who forget what little money most of the country has. Or headspace to always be environmentally minded.
The job I do is low paid but puts a lot of good in the world. I’m a good person. We all lack somewhere, and if Shein is my flaw then I’m okay with that. As are millions in the country.

Well said. Mumsnet is a bit of a middle class bubble sometimes who forget what little money most of the country has. Or headspace to always be environmentally minded.
The job I do is low paid but puts a lot of good in the world. I’m a good person. We all lack somewhere, and if Shein is my flaw then I’m okay with that. As are millions in the country.

Well said. Mumsnet is a bit of a middle class bubble sometimes who forget what little money most of the country has. Or headspace to always be environmentally minded.
The job I do is low paid but puts a lot of good in the world. I’m a good person. We all lack somewhere, and if Shein is my flaw then I’m okay with that. As are millions in the country.

and if Shein is my flaw then I’m okay with that.

It’s not your kids and family working in these factories so that makes it ok.

and if Shein is my flaw then I’m okay with that.

It’s not your kids and family working in these factories so that makes it ok.

I tried to buy dd some clothes for college yesterday - all the jeans and trousers in places like H&M and River Island were miles too long. But she can get jeans that fit her on Shein. All the tops I looked at were not brilliant quality/material but were quite expensive for what they were. DD won't shop in M&S where I could get short length jeans.

If retailers appealing to teens want to compete with Shein, they have to change and offer something better. It's often mums paying the bill so I'd like clothes that look like they'll last a while, not look like rags as soon as you try them on, decent stitching, t shirts made of non sweaty material. Then I'd feel happier paying what high street shops (that appeal to teens) are asking!
We aren't all buying 10 dresses from Shein and binning them after one wear - dd has butter soft jeans that she's been wearing for months and will wear until they fall apart. So far, there's no sign of them doing so.
I honestly try to buy in real shops first - I do Vinted a lot but retailers have to make some effort too - I can't be spending £15 on one (recycled plastic) top.

If Shein is that bad then the govt needs to block its sale in the UK.

So what other worlds problems can I take on ?

Don't you feel bad that you fly in a plane for your hols and add to pollution?

Don't you feel bad that you drive a car ?

Don't you feel bad that there's children dying of famine in African countries?

Don't you feel bad that you eat 3 square meals per day whilst children in Gaza are starving and on the brink of death ?

Don't you feel bad that you get to go home to a warm cozy house whilst some people live in wooden shacks ?

Don't you feel bad that you buy from supermarkets when you could get it all from source ?

Don't you feel bad that people get cancer everyday and some die whilst you carry on your day ?

Don't you feel bad that you use a washing machine and nuclear plant's are being built to facilitate our energy usage ? Why don't you get a mangle?

No. You pick your battles that you can do anything about in life.

Millions of people (billions probably) shop at SHEIN. You think me not shopping there (because you told me not do) is going to make one jot of difference? SHEIN is worth billions. So I can't be the only one picking my battles in life. It's just you think you reserve the right to guilt trip me and blame me for child labour.

Primark is Irish - I think the parent company is called Penney's. But yes, they stick to European safety standards and ethics.

Primark is also bound by very strong legislation concerning fire safety.

Shein isn't.