Sustainability is taking the world by storm and for good reason especially when we are producing far more than we actually need; talking about sustainability is not a bad thing. However, the question remains: can we be truly sustainable if we ignore certain classes of people?
Shein, a fast fashion company estimated to have made around $10 billion in revenue in 2020 is an affordable and size-inclusive clothing brand shipping articles of clothing from China (Testa, 2022). See https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/01/style/shein-clothing.htm for a full profile on Shein. With a single t-shirt costing around $10, it is an easy alternative to expensive outlets such as Zara. However, are we paying the true cost of that t-shirt? It seems unimaginable that a shirt being shipped to Canada from China only costs $15 including shipping.
According to Cachon and Swinney, fast fashion has two components: a short lead time (it takes the company no time at all to match supply to demand) and a trendy catalogue (Cachon and Swinney, 2011). Today, the overload of information makes us more aware of the world we live in but it also reduces our capacity to critically engage with this information. Trends become obsolete in a matter of weeks; Shein has capitalized on that climate by providing an online platform for easy and quick shopping.
We have to ask who is bearing the brunt of these trends. When we as consumers see changing trends, all we have to do is click a few buttons and order new clothes, but who is making our clothes? Shein, time and time again has been under trial for unfair labour practices. According to an article by CNN, a documentary from BBC4 discovers that workers are expected to work 12 to 13 hours a day often with no concrete schedule for off-days (Liu, 2022).
Shein workshops in China (https://fashionmagazine.com/style/shein-violates-labour-laws/)
In a changing world where we are identifying ourselves not only as consumers but as global citizens, there is an onus on us to care about what we buy and who we buy it from. This is not to attach those who cannot afford clothes from Zara or Aritzia every time the trends change not only because of money but also because historically big name brands do not cater to plus sized people. It is instead a commentary on those who do “hauls” from Shein for over $500 on any given shopping trip. Can we truly justify spending so much money on clothes made by people who are earning a fractional amount of what we pay for them especially when we should be striving towards sustainable practices?
References:
Testa, J. (2022, September 1). The People’s Republic of Shein. The New York Times. Retrieved January 22, 2023, from https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/01/style/shein-clothing.html
Cachon, G. P., & Swinney, R. (2011). The Value of Fast Fashion: Quick Response, Enhanced Design, and Strategic Consumer Behavior. Management Science, 57(4), 778–795. http://www.jstor.org/stable/25835736
Liu, J. (2022, December 6). Shein tells suppliers to end long working days at factories by end of the month | CNN business. CNN. Retrieved January 22, 2023, from https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/06/business/china-shein-labor-conditions-investment-hnk-intl/index.html
Really interesting article! I’ve heard a lot of people debate the detriments of poor working conditions in underdeveloped countries, saying that many of these jobs are still much better options than other jobs in their communities. Regardless, I personally believe these multi-million dollar, international corporations have a responsibility to uphold a certain level of basic human rights in their supply chains, even if poorer working conditions are more normalized.
I appreciate how your article brings attention to the severity of working conditions in the fast fashion industry!