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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.
Rising emissions, rising popularity
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 continues to get our lowest rating of “We Avoid” when we last reviewed it in February 2025. The brand has, in recent years, published some sustainability information on its website—this is likely to address the growing backlash it’s been receiving, and also to make the business more appealing as it attempts to list on the stock market. But its most recent sustainability report highlighted that its shipping emissions had actually increased in 2024, showing that the brand really is going backwards for the planet. Not only that, but our rating review found no evidence that it ensures living wages are paid to everyone in its supply chain, nor that it is taking action to minimise hazardous chemicals in its supply chain, amongst many other issues.
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 secondhand 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.
