Yes, Shein is a prime example of an ultra-fast fashion brand, defined by its business model of high-volume, rapid-turnover production and extremely low prices. Ethically, the brand is marred by a severe lack of transparency, reports of exploitative labor conditions, and wages well below living standards. Environmentally, Shein's reliance on fossil fuel-based synthetic materials and its massive production scale contribute to significant pollution, waste, and carbon emissions.
Most experts consider Shein's practices to be some of the most problematic in the industry, raising serious concerns about its impact on both people and the planet. Here's a detailed breakdown of what you need to know.
Shein's entire business model is an amplification of fast fashion principles, leveraging a just-in-time manufacturing approach to outpace even traditional fast fashion giants.
Shein fails to meet basic ethical standards due to its profound lack of transparency and credible reports of poor labor practices.
Shein's supply chain is notoriously opaque, but investigations suggest dire working conditions. Factory workers in its supply chain are reported to earn as little as $180-$250 per month, far below a living wage, while enduring excessive 60-80 hour workweeks. The company doesn't publish a list of its suppliers, making it impossible to independently verify claims about factory safety or working conditions.
The brand provides virtually no public information about its manufacturing process or suppliers. Shein does not hold any credible third-party certifications like Fair Trade or SA8000 that would verify its labor standards, and it does not make its factory audit results public. This makes any claims of ethical production unverifiable and untrustworthy.
Shein uses animal-derived products like leather and wool but provides no information about their sourcing. Without any policies or certifications like the Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) or Leather Working Group (LWG), there is no assurance that animals are treated humanely within its supply chain.
Shein's business model is fundamentally unsustainable, built on overproduction, fossil fuel-derived materials, and disposable consumption.
Shein relies heavily on cheap, virgin synthetic fabrics like polyester, which is derived from petroleum. It's estimated that less than 15% of its materials are from more sustainable or recycled sources. This heavy use of plastics contributes to microplastic pollution, high energy consumption, and dependence on fossil fuels.
The brand's carbon footprint is immense due to its enormous production volume and reliance on carbon-intensive air freight for global shipping. Shein has not made any public commitment to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, manage its water and chemical use, or set science-based climate targets. Its scale of operations single-handedly fuels enormous environmental degradation.
Shein's model directly creates waste. The low quality of its clothing means items quickly end up in landfills, and the company has no take-back or comprehensive recycling programs to manage this waste. By producing thousands of new styles weekly, it encourages a disposable mindset where clothes are treated like single-use items.
Shein offers vague marketing claims about sustainability but lacks any concrete, time-bound goals for improvement. It has not published a comprehensive sustainability report, nor does it provide transparent data on its progress toward reducing its environmental footprint, making its efforts a clear case of greenwashing.
Shein's practices place it among the worst offenders in the fashion industry. Its business model prioritizes ultra-low prices and rapid trend cycles above all else, with severe consequences for both the people who make its clothes and the environment.
Shein receives a D for its profound lack of supply chain transparency, credible reports of exploitative wages and excessive working hours, and the complete absence of independent verification. The company fails to provide any meaningful evidence that it protects the basic human rights and safety of its workers.
The brand's environmental grade is also a D. This is due to its massive overproduction, heavy reliance on damaging synthetic materials, lack of climate targets, and direct contributions to textile waste. Any small claims of using recycled materials are greenwashing that distracts from the fundamental unsustainability of its high-volume model.
If you're looking to move away from Shein's harmful model, consider these brands that prioritize people and the planet while still offering stylish options.
As a certified B Corp and leader in outdoor wear, Patagonia uses over 70% certified recycled materials and guarantees Fair Trade production for a large part of its collection. Its premium-priced products are built for longevity, and the brand actively campaigns against the disposable consumerism Shein promotes.
Shop now at patagonia.com
Focused on quality basics and minimalist style, Everlane offers radical transparency into its factories and pricing. While not perfect, it uses a significant amount of certified organic cotton and recycled materials and provides detailed information on its ethical sourcing practices, at a more accessible, mid-range price point.
Shop now at everlane.com
For trendy, feminine styles similar to Shein, Reformation is a much better choice. It is Climate Neutral Certified, uses a high percentage of sustainable fabrics like Tencel and recycled materials, and provides transparency on its environmental "RefScale" score for each garment.
Shop now at thereformation.com
A pioneer of ethical fashion, People Tree is a guaranteed Fair Trade organization that uses GOTS-certified organic cotton. Its classic, timeless designs are made with respect for both farmers and garment workers, making it a gold standard for conscious consumerism.
Shop now at peopletree.co.uk
Focused on circularity and timeless design, Eileen Fisher uses nearly 100% organic or recycled fibers and has take-back programs to give old garments new life. The B Corp is an industry leader in creating a more responsible, circular fashion system, suitable for those investing in a long-lasting wardrobe.
Shop now at eileenfisher.com
Shein's extremely low prices are the result of several factors: paying garment workers poverty wages, using cheap and low-quality synthetic materials, mass-producing items on an enormous scale to reduce per-unit costs, and benefiting from weak labor and environmental regulations in its manufacturing regions.
Shein has faced numerous public accusations and lawsuits from independent artists and designers who claim the company has copied their work without permission or compensation. This practice of "trend replication" often crosses the line into intellectual property theft, allowing Shein to profit from the creativity of others without credit.
While using recycled polyester is slightly better than virgin polyester, it is still a plastic material that sheds microplastics when washed. For a company like Shein, which uses recycled materials for less than 15% of its products, advertising this fact is a form of greenwashing that distracts from the millions of tons of virgin plastic it still uses.
