Shein
Fast fashion
Founded in China in 2008 by Chris Xu, Shein has quickly become the world's largest fashion retailer, surpassing H&M and Zara. The company has no physical stores and exists almost entirely on social media. While production is still primarily in China, Shein moved its headquarters to Singapore in 2022 in an attempt to distance itself from China. Ships to 220 countries. In 2023 Shein bought the Missguided brand from Frasers Group, and acquired 33% of Forever 21 parent company SPARC.

Overall

Owned SGP
Rating F
About the Ratings
Zoetop Business Co Ltd
SGP

Company Assessment

(Last updated Oct 2024)
Zoetop Business Co Ltd
Criticism
9.56% for supply chain practices in China
The Green Supply Chain Corporate Information Transparency Index (CITI) evaluates consumer-facing companies that have a sizeable supply chain in China. The evaluation uses government supervision data and public information to assess the environmental management of their supply chains in China. This company received a score of 9.56/100 (retrieved 24 Nov 2023).
Source: IPE (2023)
Workers rights in China
In 2021 Public Eye investigated working conditions at Shein supplier factories in Guangzhou, China. Shein sources from a network of hundreds of small suppliers and sub-contractors, where workers usually have no employment contract, and no social security contributions. Workers commonly work 75 hours per week with no overtime premium and only one day off per month. Safety deficiencies abound. These are all violations of Chinese law.
3.8% in Human Rights Benchmark
The 2023 Corporate Human Rights Benchmark assessed 55 companies in the apparel sector on their human rights performance. This company received a score of 3.8%. The overall average score was a disappointing 18.2% and the highest score was 53.4%.
7/100 in Fashion Transparency Index
The 2023 Fashion Transparency Index reviewed 250 of the world's largest fashion brands and retailers and ranked them according to how much they disclose about their human rights and environmental policies, practices and impacts. Brands owned by this company scored 7%, signifying it has little to no information about their supply chain practices or policies available to the public. The average score was 26% and the highest score was 83%.
13/100 in What Fuels Fashion?
What Fuels Fashion? is a single-issue, special edition of the Fashion Transparency Index. The 2024 report ranked 250 of the world's largest fashion brands and retailers according to their level of disclosure on climate and energy-related data in their own operations and supply chains. Brands owned by this company scored 13%. The average score was 18% and the highest score was 75%.
14.1% in Gender Benchmark
The 2023 Gender Benchmark ranks 112 companies from the apparel and food and agriculture sectors on their efforts to drive gender equality and women's empowerment across their entire value chain. Companies are assessed on governance and strategy, representation, compensation and benefits, health and well-being, violence and harassment, and marketplace and community. This company ranked #90/112, with a total score of 14.1%. The average score was 23% and the highest score was 55%.
4/20 in Social Benchmark
The 2024 Social Benchmark assesses the world's 2,000 most influential companies on their responsibility in meeting society's fundamental expectations towards three measurement areas: respecting human rights, providing decent work, and acting ethically. This company was assessed in 2024 and received a score of 4/20. The average score was an alarmingly low 4.6/20 and the highest score was 15.5/20.
20/100 in Ethical Fashion Report
Baptist World Aid Australia's '2024 Ethical Fashion Report' assessed 120 companies on their efforts to mitigate against the risks of forced labour, child labour and worker exploitation in their supply chains, as well as protect the environment from the harmful impacts of the fashion industry. Assessment criteria fall into five main categories: policy & governance, tracing & risk, auditing and supplier relationships, worker empowerment and environmental sustainability. This company received a score of 20/100. The average score was 31.3 and the highest score was 90.
Opaque and tax-optimised
In 2021 Public Eye scrutinised Shein's complex corporate structure. They found a great deal of offshore entities to disguise ownership and avoid taxes, with several Shein companies based in tax havens. A multitude of brands make the group even less tangible, with many brands sold by or through Amazon.
11.3% in Nature Benchmark
The Nature Benchmark ranks 816 companies across 20 industries on their efforts to protect our environment and its biodiversity. Companies were assessed in three phases between 2022 and 2024 using three measurement areas: governance and strategy; social inclusion and community impact; and ecosystems and biodiversity. This company was assessed in 2024 and is ranked #504/816, with a total score of 11.3/100.
Information
Modern Slavery disclosure failures
Shein has not made public disclosures about working conditions along its supply chain that are required by law in the United Kingdom and Australia, and the company until recently falsely stated on its website that conditions in the factories it uses were certified by international labor standards bodies, Reuters found in 2021.
Breaching advertising codes
This company has been criticised for offensive advertising. In 2022 the Advertising Standards Bureau upheld complaints about two ads by this company on the grounds that they breached advertising codes. The ads were subsequently discontinued or modified.
Forced labour concerns
Republican attorneys general from 16 U.S. states and two dozen U.S. representatives have expressed concerns over Shein's labor practices and sustainability. They are calling on the SEC to scrutinise Shein's supply chain, and to delay Shein's potential initial public offering until conclusive evidence of non-use of forced labor is provided.
Social responsibility claims
This company has social responsibility claims on its website in the areas of community support, workers rights and sustainable practices.
Criticism of Shein - Wikipedia
Criticism of Shein includes intellectual property theft, 2018 data breach, criticism for offensive images, app prohibition in India, health and safety concerns, human rights violations, tax evasion, and amplification of fast fashion.
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Company Details

Founded:
2008
Revenue:
15 billion USD (2021)
Employees:
100,000+ (2020)
Subsidiaries:
SPARC Group LLC (33% owned)
Retail
Joint venture between Simon Property Group, a retail real estate company and Authentic Brands Group, a brand development company. SPARC stands for Simon Property Authentic Retail Concepts. In 2023 Chinese fast fashion company Shein bought a 33% stake.
Eddie Bauer LLC
Clothing retail
Acquired in 2021 by SPARC Group, a joint venture between Simon Property Group and Authentic Brands Group.
Forever 21 Inc
Youth fashion
Founded in California in 1984 by CEO Don Chang and his wife. About 60% of its apparel is manufactured in China. Operates about 500 retail stores around the world. Filed for bankruptcy in 2019 and acquired by Authentic Brands Group, Simon Property Group and Brookfield Property Partners in 2020. Forever 21 entered Australia in 2014, but left in 2017.

Contact Details

Address:
Singapore
Website:
www.shein.com

Products / Brands

Shein
Missguided Womens Fashion
Shein E-commerce
Shein Youth Fashion
SPARC (33% owned) / True Alliance (distributor)
Brooks Brothers Menswear (formal)
Nautica Outdoor Wear
SPARC (33% owned)
Lucky Brand Denim
Eddie Bauer (33% owned)
Eddie Bauer Outdoor Wear
Forever 21 (33% owned)
Forever 21 Youth Fashion