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SHEIN is bad news for people, the planet, and animals as a notorious ultra fast fashion brand. We’ve rounded up our favourite “Good” and “Great” alternatives to SHEIN below.
Not quite “the beauty of fashion”
Founded in 2008, SHEIN is one of the fastest growing online fast fashion retailers. It sells clothes at ridiculously low price points and of very dubious quality. SHEIN is no stranger to greenwashing and has come under fire several times in the last few years. In 2023, the brand received a lot of backlash after it took a group of influencers on a trip to one of its factories and innovation centres in China. Videos posted by the influencers of them touring the SHEIN facilities, praising the ultra fast fashion brand’s practices, and dismissing the child labour allegations as mere rumours caused uproar online. “The controversy stems from criticism that SHEIN has received as investigative reporting revealed the company’s use of quick, cheap labour violates Chinese labour laws and negatively impacts the environment,” reported Forbes.
So it shouldn’t come as a surprise that SHEIN gets our lowest rating of “We Avoid”. In our 2023 rating, we found no evidence the brand has introduced initiatives to reduce its environmental impact, to empower its workers, or to pay a living wage. SHEIN keeps promoting overconsumption, and that is harmful to both people and the planet.
Today we’ve listed a few of our favourite more sustainable alternatives to SHEIN: these “Good” and “Great” brands respect the planet, people, and animals, and promote a more responsible approach to consumption, including using resale and second-hand options, repairing, and only buying what you need—all while creating stylish clothes that’ll last. Here are the top-rated brands you’ll love more than SHEIN.
