Shein

[SummerDaysOnTheWay]

Is it all really crap material / quality?

One thing I love from shein, oddly enough is their men's tracksuits(for myself). I live on my own, they're stylish enough to answer the door in/walk the dog in in bad weather but they're comfortable, cosy and great for lounging around the house. They're good enough quality, I've worn and washed mine many times. I did previously buy the women's ones, cheaper but not anywhere near as gold quality. I'm a size 10-12 and a small men's fits great.

I love clothes and experimenting with different looks but for comfortable at home wear I've not found anything anywhere near the same.
Again, the large majority of my clothes are second hand, I have a few designer pieces and a few basic bits and 'going out' things from shein. In my defence I am not into 'fast fashion'. My shein clothes are worn for as long as they last, and they do last! I've got several going out tops and frocks that I've had several years. They're definitely no worse quality than Next or similar but far nicer designs IME.

I saw an interview with one of the workers who said without the factory and that work they would make zero money and would starve. So which scenario is worse, starving to death on the streets or very long hours working?

One of my former work colleagues hired a sex worker abroad. The cost to him was minimal, and he boasted about how what he had paid her for one evening for her to “do everything he wanted” (his words) equalled a week’s wages in her country. He viewed himself as doing her a favour by keeping her in business.

Daft question as of course most things are better than starving. And it’s very disingenuous to sum it up as just working long hours:

If we all thought in such a conveniently black and white way there would never be an incentive to stop exploiting (see pp regards sex workers - I mean, it’s a job, right?).

But I’m sure many will take that as a reason to keep shopping there.

Well what do you suggest for these workers as an alternative? There is no alternative.

Oh right, you're actually doing them a FAVOUR keeping them enslaved and buying from Shite because at least they have a job? Fuck me.

And as for the "every other company is as bad" - when you buy something from M&S, Zara or yes, even Primark, they are based in countries where people do care about environmental impact and not using slave labour. Yes sometimes they get caught out and sometimes aren't as good as they can be but at least they are TRYING. Shein doesn't give a fuck. Pollute what you like, enslaved workers, rip off designers and crafters to steal their designs, shite materials, everything wrapped in plastic.

Just appalling.

Agree that the best move is just to cut back on what you buy. You don't NEED a different top for each of the 365 days of the year, you don't NEED a new dress for each night out or loads of "cute bits" for children's parties or similar. These shite-merchants just encourage over-consumption.

If you can afford to go out to wear these "lovely" tops then why not have a handful more nights in and drink a bit less alcohol so you can buy clothes from somewhere a bit less awful.

Shein does use slaves. It's as grotty as Dubai.

Roman isn’t cheap and nasty!

I don't have the budget but clothes swapping and Vinted see me right 95% of the time. Or I just wear what I have...

It's precisely BECAUSE it's so cheap it's such a big problem.

Because people don't really give a shit about wearing something more than twice if it cost 6 quid.

This. I've gone about 6 years now buying very little new and you get used to it.

gosh, this thread has evolved. Some people need to get their head examined if they manage to convince themselves that supporting slave and child labour is doing the victims a favour. I have no words!

Same as me, charity shops, ebay, Vinted and sainsburys for underwear.

Where is the data that says all or most people who shop at shein go out a lot and/or drink lots of alcohol?

I don't think anyone insaying that. They are however saying that if shein didnt have customers therefore didn't exist, their employees wouldn't necessarily be in a better place. The world doesn't work like that.

I don’t have a solution but I think that deciding to continue shopping is no better no matter how you spin it

Anyone who actively buys from places such as Shien or Temu, whilst knowing their clothes are being made by slaves (which is what forced labour is!) are the same type of people who would have not opposed the slave trade from Africa.

The rush to the bottom of ‘I’m not rich’ or ‘others are doing it’ is really rather sad, imagine clothing your child in clothes made by a child.

The fact they steal designs from small, struggling designers is unacceptable to me. For that reason alone I would never use them.