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To date, you have undoubtedly heard of the quick fashion retailer. The brand exploded during the pandemic, when buyers have turned to online platforms and remained a favorite for influencers, Gen Z and Fashion enthusiasts concerned about the budget Since. However, you may have found yourself asking yourself: Is Shein legitimate? After all, the prices are so low - and the public relations of the company - which are riddled with excavations of defenders of sustainability and accusations of labor contrary to ethics - is not so inspiring. Read the rest to learn everything you need to know about Shein, from the quality of your clothing to the security of your website.

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What is Shein?

Shein is an online clothing and lifestyle retailer who was founded in Nanjing, China, in 2008 by the entrepreneur Chris Xu . Now based in Singapore, it is one of the most precious private companies in the world, according to the The Wall Street newspaper , with a current Evaluation of $ 66 billion , against $ 100 billion at the start of 2022.

The site has a large inexpensive clothing inventory in several categories, which means that buyers can get their supplies, from winter clothes to tropical holiday clothes with Halloween costumes in one place. Shein updates his stocks frequently, bringing buyers back for even more fashionable clothes.

Where is Shein?

As mentioned, Shein has its headquarters in Nanjing, China, but serves customers in more than 150 countries, including the United States, Ireland and Brazil, and employs 10,000 people worldwide , according to his website. A large part of its attraction comes from its prices at background of rock: think of $ 10 sweaters, $ 7 of bikinis and $ 14 of cargo pants, which appeal to its younger customers, especially when there is concerns about a recession.

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Is Shein legitimate?

It depends on how you define legitimate. Shein is a fully functional e -commerce website that will provide you with your order if you make one. He has a note D of Better Business Office And is not listed like a scam. There are concerns about the quality of the articles, the conviviality and the working conditions that the company supports, but the buyers and their portfolios will probably remain safe if they place an order on Shein.

Of course, the above -mentioned complaints are practically synonymous with the rapid fashion category as a whole, of which Shein is a member. About 100 billion clothes are produced by world clothing manufacturers each year, and 92 million tonnes are found in landfills - and global emissions from the clothing industry are only should increase by 50% By 2030, according to Earth.org. Companies like Shein, which lower up to 10,000 new articles per day, encourage such overconsumption and require rapid workforce and inexpensive materials to create products.

Are clothes of good quality?

In two words, not really. "Although these low prices on fashionable parts can be very tempting, consumers must know that these low prices have a cost," warns Mandy Cordia , owner and founder of Kindness causes . "Consumers are often surprised to receive articles that seem very different from what is represented online."

In addition, it says that low prices "generally indicate low quality materials (which are known to include dangerous chemicals), poor know-how and inconsistencies in manufacturing". Most items are made from materials such as polyester, acrylic and radiation, which do not work well in heat and cold temperatures.

When you leave an examination on a shein product, the reviewer has the possibility of commenting on "product quality" - you can therefore check the evaluation of individual items. Because the company produces so much, the level of crafts can be different from one room to another.

In the end, the decision to buy depends on you. If you are used to high quality clothes, you will probably see that Shein is not up to par. It is comparable to many other fast fashion brands, however, if that's what you're looking for.

Is Shein's website sure to use?

Whenever you invade your credit card number and other personal information, you want to make sure that the site you use is safe. In general, Shein has proven that its website is up to par - you will not have your stolen identity or will not take a phishing scam as a direct purchases at Shein.

However, there have been slippages. In 2018, a cybersecurity attack against the site led to a flight of 39 million Shein identification. According to Techcrunch , THE The company did not note Most of the users that their information had been compromised. New York state inflicted a fine of $ 1.9 million for its incident's negligence handling.

What is the Better Business Bureau to say on Shein?

The Better Business Office is an American childcare dog on businesses and charitable organizations. At present, Shein is not accredited on the site, which means that the BBB would give them an unfavorable note. Her platform note is D, and there have been 1,527 complaints against her in the past five years. Many complaints concerned the problems of delivery and the reimbursement of the SNAFUS.

"Placed the order on 12/1 and was promised a delivery date before 12/13. I contacted this company and their maritime company without communication since the 12th when I obtained the notification of your order today 'Hui. When I finally get a property of an agent, they tell me that I must wait until the 21st until it does anything on this subject, "wrote an unhappy buyer, whose complaint was similar to many others on the site.

"I spent $ 331 with this company, my transaction number was X. It was missing part of my order and the company will not reimburse the missing items," wrote another.

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Why is she so controversial?

Shein is no stranger to controversy and has had many bad press episodes since its creation.

One of the most recent controversies was the concern of the chemicals used in manufacturing. A survey in 2021 in the University of Toronto revealed that a jacket for toddlers on Shein had 20 times the safe levels of chemicals such as lead, PFA and phthalates. A red bag had the healthy levels more than five times.

"It is dangerous waste , " MIRIAM Diamond , an environmental chemist and professor at the University of Toronto, told the CBC .

Then there is the problem of waste and overproduction - and a report of Anonymous synthetic 2.0 that Shein oil consumption leads to the same amount of CO2 as 180 carbon electric power plants. The store sends Between 35,000 and 100,000 pieces Every day, by Euronews , and it is not a secret for anyone that many of these items enter the trash after a single wear, to be replaced by a garment with a different cost.

The company has been accused of theft of intellectual property - a practice to which it can use to continue to pump new designs. In one case indicated by The Guardian , A Painter based in the United Kingdom I found one of his paintings stamped on a Shein sweatshirt. Another artist has found his representation of frogs on a sticker sold in Shein. And nail artist T-shirt found its conceptions of complex nails on Press nails sold to the company , reports the Bbc .

The great designers are not safe either. Brands like Levi Strauss and Dr. Martens also continued the company brands , according to Financial time .

There are also reports of poor working conditions contrary and contrary to ethics. "Recent surveys have raised concerns concerning the conditions to which workers are subject, in particular long hours of work, a low salary and potential violations of workers' rights", " Gareth Boyd , a retainer and co-founder and general manager of Boyd Enter , tell Better life . "These results suggest a potential disconnection between Shein's public statements on fair salary and reality within their supply chain."

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Tips for shopping on Shein

Do not shop for the staples

As mentioned, the quality of Shein can be at best questionable, with many articles, barely passing one or two washes. This means that you should probably skip the store for basic clothes that you will want to wear again and again, like jeans, jackets and dresses adapted to work - they will probably not last as long as you wish. AE0FCC31AE342FD3A1346EBB1F342FCB

Familiar with the return policy

If you buy something from Shein from which you are not satisfied, you can return it. The online retailer accepts the yields not worn within 35 days of the date of purchase; All beacons must be on the element.

Some categories of articles are not eligible for feedback, including combinations, lingerie, underwear, jewelry, cosmetics, pet products and personalized products. If an article is not eligible for returns, it will be marked on the product page (or specified by the Shein customer service representative if you decide to contact them directly).

"Shein's return policy is decent, but the process can be a bit heavy", " Joseph Manktelow-Pimm , detail analyst and fashion stylist , tell Better life . "Customers may have to cover the return shipping costs, and this could take a few weeks to process, which can be frustrating if you are impatient to obtain a refund or exchange an item."

Check the dimensioning graphics

To determine your size in any piece of online clothes is a delicate affair, and this is particularly true at Shein, where standards vary. Most buyers suggest using the size guide on each product rather than buying your usual size.

Unfortunately, even it is not infallible. "It is not uncommon for buyers to find significant differences, the items being too small or too large, despite the follow-up of the graphics of size supplied," explains Manktelow-Pimm. "It is always a good idea to check the size guide for each article and customer reviews, but even then, the adjustment can always be unpredictable."

Read critics

One of the best ways to check your purchase in Shein is to read Shein clothing reviews. Fortunately, many products have hundreds, and a good percentage of criticisms even include photos. People can mention if the article is small or large, has arrived at their home in time and looks like advertising (and you can understand the same thing by browsing their photos).

Keep in mind that certain Shein criticisms can be biased. "Shein Rewards indicates customers for examining the products in exchange for discounts up to 70% reduction on an order," explains Cordia. This has led to hundreds-if not thousands of 5-star criticisms that give a minimum context or information useful to consumer reading them, she explains.

The problem is not limited to the product page either. "Although common in the retail industry, Shein also has a large range on social networks given their large Gen Z clientele, in partnership with influencers for free goods or financial compensation in exchange for sharing Love with their subscribers, "adds Cordia.

Conclusion

The decision to shop at Shein is ultimately personal and will depend on various factors, what you buy to find out how you consult the problems of sustainability and work.

Visit Better life Once again for more retail news.

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