Fucking SHEIN

[Spudthespanner]

Every shopping result when I search for something on Google is bloody SHEIN. I’ve never shopped there in my puff!

“light summer shirts”

SHEIN SHEIN SHEIN SHEIN SHEIN plus a few other obviously bullshit Chinese companies just to spice things up a bit.

Fuck sake.

I've noticed this lately, the top 20 results are for either Shein or Temu. Thankfully I enjoy shopping with both and have never had anything poor quality.

Block it from your search results if you don't want to see it.

How?

I’ve tried to as per PP’s advice and it doesn’t work.

Truthfully, I've never had a sub standard purchase of SHEIN. The only thing I can possibly critisise quality wise is jumpers I bought for my daughter were very "polyester -y" . I've bought river island clothes that come with a huge mark up , that have been worse quality. £4.55 Vs £45 is a massive difference for the non affluent.

I'd like to try different stores but as I don't know the names of them I can't search them.

I didn't realise that people buying expensive crap didn't realise that much of it is produced in the same conditions.

Same. I have never bought from slave labour shein or temu and never will. The ads do my head in.

I would be worried that the cheap goods are made by enslaved Uighirs. That is literally forced labour, not just poor wages and working conditions.

I’ve watched a documentary on shein and you’re right they do use child labour and workers get paid a pittance and are treated horribly. But, and excuse my ignorance, what would actually happen to those works if everyone stopped shopping at shein? Surely unless there’s a better alternative for them, they will suffer from loss of income.

I don't enjoy lead poisoning my children or child slavery so I'd never buy.

I just end up going directly to sites of the places I use instead of just searching generically to avoid their tat.

By buying something well made and ethically sourced you are not having to keep replacing.

Shein is no more crap than the made in China stuff that Zara, H&M, River Island etc etc etc has been selling on the high street the last thirty years. Not to mention 50%+ of the toys in your house that are made in China, baby and toddler products, household appliances, etc. Shein and Temu just mean you get it at slightly closer to cost price rather than fuelling profits of aforementioned Western multinationals.

Buying at Shein feels like the antithesis of being goth and alternative. I thought the point of that kind of style was being different?

Same. I googled linen trousers and get normal high street shops. I don’t get why you just don’t click on the shein links???

And where do you think your "well made" clothes are produced? Unless you're shopping at a very niche and very expensive independent shop, your clothes will likely be coming from the same or at the very least, similar , factories.

As part of the ongoing global trade wars, China threatened to release details of all the designers and upmarket stores whose stuff is made in large Chinese factories. I'd love that!

This information is out there now. It is all over TikTok. Even details of how to order items directly from the manufacturer. All sorts of items, including athleisure (Lululemon etc), Birkenstocks, high end bags etc.

But Shein sell all sorts of brands, so if you boycott Shein and Temu are you also boycotting all the brands they sell too? Coach bags, Kerastase hair care, Clarins face care, perfumes and absolutely loads more. Shein are not just one big factory making polyester clothing in one factory. They are resellers, of brands you already no doubt buy.

The marketing for their products is quite annoying though, although I have to say I get more Temu suggestions over Shein, but then again Temu are a fairly new offering to the country I live in. I will also look to see if I can block Temu .

You have seen my knickers labels then?
Just takes a bit of forethought and research. My clothes are almost all made in UK

Just some more info that transpired from the release of Chinese manufacturers, the leggings that Shein sell (GlowMode) are basically Lululemon without the same logo and price tag. Made in the same factory. The same factory that produce Under Armour, Nike etc.

Also skin care. L'Oreal, Estee Lauder etc. A lot of the products are made the the same factories in China. Then sent to another country in bulk where its packaged, so then legally they are allowed to print on "Made in EU" or relevant country.

So I don't think those boycotting the likes of Shein are making an awful lot of difference.

You've not ever ranted about something and found that it wasn't actually a big issue after all, so gone and had a cup of tea and calmed down? Or got frustrated with repairing or installing something and gone for a cup of tea to calm down and think about it?

It wasn't a sociological analysis or a searing polemic upon the nature of modern trading patterns - it was just the OP ranting about the search returning so many results in a vaguely lighthearted way.

The 'made in..' labels don't really tell you anything. The fabric would have been made in Pakistan, shipped to Cambodia to dye, then shippped over to China for cutting and sewing together then sent to the UK for a little bow to be sewn on for the last step in the process and the label can then be marked as 'Made in the UK'

Haven't read the full thread so not sure it's been suggested yet - but have you tried using chatgpt to search instead? Something like
'I want a light summer shirt, ladies, light summery colours. I like bands such as Whistles and barbour. I want good quality (i.e. not fast fashion), with a pref for cotton or bamboo or other natural materials over anything synthetic like polyester. Give me 30 suggestions'
Should get you more specific results. You can go further and add price range, occasion, body type etc..

I don’t click on them 🙄

ChatGPT is an insanely carbon- and water-intensive wasteful way of finding out basic information.

I didn’t think to use this. My understanding of chat gpt is it only has a data base of information from and to a certain date. It’s not updated, so it wouldn’t be learning what’s currently on sale or in stock with different companies- is that not the case?

@Spudthespanner it's been able to search the web since last year - I've found it does much better tailored searches for stuff like this!

Thank you, I was not up to speed with that at all, that’s a great tip!