Shein

[blondie66]

What are people's opinions on buying garments from Shein.

It’s hated on here but I have had some good clothes from them.

I have bought quite a lot and keep over 90%. When I've been disappointed it's usually the fabric hasn't been what I expected.
I don't really do disposable fashion, so I'm not using Shein for 'wear once' outfits, it's where I buy work wear, jeans etc because I can't really afford to shop elsewhere.

I’ve a few bits for work. I’m wearing a SHEIN skirt today - I know people here don’t like the ethics but my wardrobe needed updating mid weight loss and it’s affordable

I buy from there for me and my kids. I e had about 5 dudes items out of quite a large number now. Frankly I’ve got a better ‘hit’ rate at Shein than from most UK retailers.

For the main stuff - it’s been good material, lovely cuts and well sewed.

you’ll get a lot of ‘but Shein is evil’. But it’s really not. Or if it is, so is Nike, Adodas. Zara, etc etc etc.

Would never buy from there. Maybe second hand if the quality was good. Their production model is completely unsustainable and devastating for the environment. That's before you even go into fair wages and working hours for their employees.

I agree with @OxfordInkling in terms of is it really worse than anywhere else that is charging 5 x the price?

I have bought some items in the past. I’m not sure it’s much different from shopping in Primark?

However, I have promised my teen DDs that I won’t do it again. They are quite passionate about it, and very convincing.

Well yes any company that uses sweat shops isn’t worth giving them your money

I wouldn’t buy from there myself as I can afford to buy from somewhere which hopefully has better production practices - although I totally appreciate what @OxfordInklingsays as I suspect a lot of suppliers aren’t much better.

however I’ve no issues with people buying from there if it’s the only way they are going to be able to clothe themselves and their families.

Friends who have bought stuff from there seem quite happy with it.

It’s not just about the ethics of their production though. If you are struggling to clothe yourself there are cheap clothes available without also adding to the churn of online shopping and shipping in goods ( unless you happen to be housebound or live entirely rurally )

You’ll get the ethics committee on here telling you they’re the devil. But it’s basically high street stuff without the label and going direct to supplier so cheaper.

I prefer vinted as most of SHEIN is polyester and viscose etc but you can search for cotton/linen on SHEIN and it’s about the same price as the high street.

mixed bag sometimes good sometimes bad

I wouldn't even buy it second hand.

It really, really is the worst of the worst.

Putting child and forced labour aside which is of course absolutely fucking awful and something it has in common with other pricier retailers , Shen is the an environmental and social disaster for so many other reasons, all of which have been discussed in threads before and can easily be found if you are genuinely interested.

This is an excellent video from a designer and ex-seamstress who knows her stuff. I’d recommend a watch.

Yes. It is.

I know people who say they buy clothes from Shein because they "can't afford" to buy elsewhere.

I'm not saying this is the case for everyone, but with the people I know, the reality is that they are buying multiple outfits for nights out, holidays, etc., which they are wearing once or twice and then binning. They are not buying necessary clothes. They are buying into fast fashion.

They can afford to buy elsewhere, they absolutely could afford Primark or supermarket clothes at the very least and probably H&M etc if they just bought a bit less.

They want the convenience, choice and amount of fast fashion that they can get at Shein.

I'm on a tiny budget and I agree, you don't have to buy cheap shit made by children. There are plenty of decent clothes in very good condition going second hand.

It's a false economy to buy cheaply made clothes anyway. Because I'm on a tiny budget, I make sure I get things made well with good materials that will last.

You've got to have a really fucking faulty moral compass to buy from Shein.

I agree with the majority
Their ethics are immoral.
cheap clothes need frequent replacements
Buy cheap buy twice
I buy pretty much everything on Vinted now for all sorts of reasons but it’s better to spend a few quid on there than one penny on Shein et all

Cheap Chinese shit made from slave labour which is killing the planet.

I don't like to buy from companies where my money goes straight out the country. I prefer to spend where my money goes on UK wages for shop/warehouse/admin workers.

Look at the conditions some of our clothing manufacturers had people working in in Covid.

I like their clothes but only but them second hand.