SHEIN/temu

[Soubriquet]

Anyone actually bought clothing from these and found they are ok? Tempted by the prices on some stuff, and I know it’s cheap fashion, but when kids are still growing, it makes sense, especially when it’s so cheap.

But does it actually arrive ok? Is it wearable? Is it true to size?

What are you on about. The poster after you has just affirmed that the shein/temu clothes are the same as any others on the high street.

This. I don't do fast fashion using child or slave labour. Use eBay and Vinted for quality 'preloved' items instead.

Yeah, I've bought tops from there which have been absolutely fine. You can't pay me to buy stuff on Vinted, they always arrive stinking of highly perfumed laundry detergent.

And the Vinted stuff ends up arriving in a dirty bin bag smelling of stale perfume

It's all cheap tat and awful material.

If you care about what kind of a planet your kids and grandkids will be living on, don't buy plastic clothes from unethical sources.

I order from both regularly, Shein is better for clothing, Temu is great for household stuff and craft supplies.

Only issue I've ever had is items being the wrong size. I always go for a size or two bigger than I want as most things fit small

People are recommending Vinted, a second hand site. No one has said it’s the same or even said that ….

I’ve ordered clothes for my kids from a few places like this, and honestly, it’s been hit or miss. The prices are great, especially since kids outgrow things so fast, but you have to manage your expectations. Some items were surprisingly decent—soft, held up after a few washes, and fit as expected. Others, not so much—sizing can be all over the place, and I’ve had a few pieces arrive with wonky seams or thinner fabric than I expected.A lot of these clothes come from factories in China, so quality can vary depending on the brand or batch. My tip? Check the reviews and size charts carefully, and maybe don’t buy anything super specific or for a big event.

There was a documentary about Shein not long ago. They tested a kids jacket from there. It had arsenic in it. Nothing is so cheap it's worth dressing your kids in that. I refuse to buy anything from those websites, especially for my daughter.

Did you add that link into your post?

I absolutely understand everyone's reasons for not wanting to shop at Shein. They are unethical and their clothes contain a lot of undesireables, however I shop there a lot.
If I had children, I wouldn't buy them clothes from there, but I don't and as an adult I can weigh up the risks.

I LOVE clothes and fashion, I would say around 70% of my wardrobe is second hand/hand me downs-I buy from eBay and love a charity shop.

But Shein sell some really unusual clothes that I have tried, and cannot find anywhere else. I have jumpers, trousers, jackets and dresses from there, all very unusual. I've had a couple of things that haven't fit, but never anything that was poor quality to the extent it didn't reflect the price. They're never going to be designer quality but neither is a high street shop. I had some Shein boots that lasted a year before beginning to scuff slightly, but my trainers from a very high end designer had bits fall off them after a year too-with much less wear in them as I seldom wore them at all.

I have two (men's!) tracksuits that are very good quality, exceptionally warm and cosy for working from home and look presentable enough to go to the shops in (although I wouldn't personally) compared to some others, nice designs, pockets.

Some lovely 'going out' tops and blouses.

All have washed well. The quality isn't BAD, It's not GOOD, but it isn't bad at all.

I justify it as my guilty pleasure. I am vegan, childless, never take flights, anytime I need anything I look at second hand first, apart from indulging my love of clothes.

Yes their labour is dubious-but they've been made an example of. Delve into other fashion brands and you often won't find much better.

There was a big news story about how toxic the fabrics are for people especially children as the clothing contains high amounts of lead amongst other things. I definitely would avoid

Vinted is a much better idea

Do people really highly rate Vinted ? Or are some sponsored to say it? MN is the only place I see it mentioned.

It’s child labour.

They aren't cut for British bodies imho. But the odd blouse has been ok

Not a chance would I put that crap on my child's skin. Absolutely covered in dangerous and unregulated chemicals and worse.

Just adding to this, and I realise It's a different thread altogether! If Shein (and Temu and the like) weren't successful any longer-I wonder where the workers would go? Nobody is going to rescue them and get them a decent job in a nice office. They'd still have to earn money-and they'd likely end up in a worse position. Of course I don't mean this as an excuse for shopping there, but unfortunately in those types of setups Shein may be a better option than many others.

There's a good youtube documentary on Shein-think It's about 45 minutes long. One other thing they were under scrutiny for was stealing ideas from up-and-coming designers and boutiques etc. I think this is the one I mean.

Yet another thing they're doing - ripping off businesses threatening people's livelihoods. Buy from these companies and you are filling the pockets of thieves who have absolutely no morals, at the expense of local businesses.

Plus: crap quality, polluting production processes, slave labour, animal welfare issues (for their wool), harvesting customer's data (I'm sure they're not selling it off to dodgy 3rd parties), encouraging fast fashion thereby filling up landfill, avoiding import taxation by shipping smaller amounts direct to customers. What's not to like.

They do not care, nothing ethical about them at all, they are the antithesis of someone like Anita Roddick.

Problematic to ignore all of this because, 'I need piles of cheap clothing'.

Use eBay and Vinted, buy better quality, second hand.

https://www.thersa.org/press/releases/2021/half-of-fast-fashion-entirely-made-of-new-plastics-study

Why SHEIN is a brand I will never recommend: Fast Fashion at its worst ǀ Justine Leconte

Oh I love it, and so do loads of parents as DSs school. I buy bits and bobs for myself, but IMO the real gems are the kids clothes - DS is always decked out in Joules/White Company/Ralph Lauren/Ted Baker for a couple of pounds per item. Honestly cheaper than Primark, even after shipping (I tend to buy in bundles anyway).

Yes! I've bought lots of nice items for my daughter I would never have paid full price for! Jojo dungarees for £3! I gift them onwards once she ls grown out of them.

I've also sold tonnes of stuff on there, I made about £300 just before Christmas.

I've bought quite a few bits for dd and for myself from shein. Their curve range is good and reasonably priced.

My advice is read the descriptions. Some things are crap fabrics. But they do give details of what things are made of. Having looked at stuff in Tesco and Sainsbury's lately they all have the same sort of stuff!

Also read the reviews, you often get irl pictures posted which give a better idea of what they look like than the formal ones from the site

And decimating our high street. ( unlike countries I've visited in Europe where high streets are thriving because people still shop).

This lady handmakes beautiful sea glass items and has built a business using her time and skills. The Shein copies were just of appalling quality.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cxrwg7g39dpo

I would never buy from these companies. The reasons things are so cheap is 1) poor quality materials but most of all 2) slave wages and poor conditions for the workers.
Please don't buy things you don't need and perpetuate this.