The Tidbit

Shein (pronounced “she-in”), similar to the likes of H&M and Zara, are popular for their fashionable threads at cheap prices. But, whenever something is too good to be true (i.e. new but cheap), it’s worth asking yourself “Why?”

Shein operates out of the southern Chinese metropolis of Guangzhou (“Gwong Joe”), where thousands of Chinese workers spend up to 12 hours a day sewing.

In May 2021, it was reported that the Shein app had overtaken Amazon as the most frequently downloaded shopping app in the U.S.

A Chinese report by “LatePost” learned that the revenue in 2020 for Shein was nearly $10B. While Shein doesn’t disclose much information publicly, let alone revenue. 

The Shein website provides little information about the company. It states that Shein is “an international B2C fast fashion e-commerce company”.

In an in-depth report by Public Eye, Shein employees shared similar working times: from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the morning; then from 1.30 p.m. to 5.45 p.m.; and then in the evening from 7 p.m. to 10 or 10.30 p.m. They work after dinner every day of the week except one, with one day off per month.

That amounts to over 75 working hours per week.

According to Chinese labor law, a working week can comprise a maximum of 40 hours, overtime cannot exceed 36 hours per month, and workers must have at least one day off per week.

All three interviewees state on the record that they are paid per item of clothing – the more complicated the item, the higher the amount. 

In a good month, an employee said he earns up to 10,000 yuan or approximately USD $1,400 to take home; in bad months it can be only a third of that. There is no overtime premium.

The employees do not sign contracts. With that comes no insurance. 

Shein’s warehouse employs around 10,000 workers and operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

The working hours are extremely long here too – around 12 hours a day in normal times, and up to 14 in the high season. Employees work at least 22 days per month; most work 24 to 28 days a month. 

As if poor working conditions wasn’t bad enough, the fast fashion industry is known to be a burden on the environment. And, Shein is known to steal work from artists to put on their designs.

Check out a rundown of the conditions, environmental impact, and artist theft below.