Fast Fashion SHEIN accused of containing toxic chemicals in cheap clothes

From an online fashion Startup, Shein has now become a global fast fashion giant, serving customers in more than 150 countries and owning a team of more than 11,000 employees. In just 5 years, Shein’s revenue has increased nearly 30 times from 0.61 billion USD (in 2016) to 15.7 billion USD (in 2021). Despite the Covid 19 pandemic, the company’s revenue has grown rapidly in the context of lockdowns around the world, making E-Commerce the king. According to the Financial Times, Shein’s revenue could reach 53 billion euros ($58 billion) in 2025.

However, Shein has recently faced fierce criticism when it was discovered that its products contained excessive amounts of toxic chemicals. According to a recent report by the German magazine Oekotest, two-thirds of 21 randomly selected Shein garments tested failed to meet quality standards.

Among them, a unicorn-print dress for girls was found to contain antimony, a substance that is harmful to the skin and affects health. People also found large amounts of lead and cadmium in a pair of sandals of this Brand – heavy metals that accumulate over time can cause kidney and bone damage.

This is not the first time Shein products have been accused of containing toxic substances. Previously, in May 2024, Korean authorities reported that the amount of phthalate in a pair of Shein shoes was 428 times higher than the allowable limit – the highest level in Seoul’s inspections to date. Phthalate is a chemical used to soften plastics and is also an endocrine disruptor, linked to obesity, cardiovascular disease, some cancers and reproductive problems.

With the ability to provide up to 1.3 million different designs and models in a year, Shein’s dizzying production speed makes the quality of the products uncertain. Not to mention, although the headquarters is located in Singapore, Shein’s products are manufactured in more than 5,000 factories in China. The lack of careful supervision and control could be a “loophole” leading to the situation of products containing toxic substances.

Fast Fashion: Rapid Growth – Unforeseeable Consequences

The allure of trendy clothes at rock-bottom prices has made fast fashion increasingly popular with consumers. The growth of the industry has been impressive. Inditex, the world’s largest clothing retailer, reported a 7.1% increase in Sales to €8.2 billion in the first quarter of its fiscal year 2024. The parent company of Japanese streetwear giant Uniqlo recently revised its full-year net profit forecast to a record high, citing strong global sales.

According to a report by The State of Fashion 2024, published by Business of Fashion and McKinsey, up to 40% of US consumers and 26% of UK consumers have shopped at fast fashion giants Shein or Temu in the past year. And the numbers are likely to be higher if other fast fashion retailers are included.

However, the price to pay for these spectacular growth figures is equally expensive. According to some studies, fast fashion consumers tend to throw away clothes after wearing them a few times. Specifically, for cheap garments, they will wear them about 7 times and then throw them away. For every 5 garments produced, 3 are landfilled or incinerated each year. The textile industry is estimated to emit 1.2 billion tons of greenhouse gases each year – higher than the total emissions from all air and sea transport.

The amount of clothing produced today has doubled since 2000. To meet growing consumer demand and to keep production costs low, fashion products are often made from polyester – a cheap, synthetic fiber made from petroleum that can take around 200 years to decompose.

Is “Sustainable Fashion” a viable solution?

“Sustainable Fashion” is a term used to describe products that are designed to be environmentally friendly, such as clothing made from natural fibers. The priorities for the industry are to change production models and use recycled materials to reduce environmental impact.

Along with brands, consumers can take steps to reduce their own carbon footprint by reducing their consumption of fast fashion. However, the appeal of fast fashion is still hard to resist with its low prices and trendy designs. Gen Z – the generation expected to promote sustainable consumption, but many young people are still wavering between green and fast fashion. Deloitte’s 2023 Gen Z survey shows that environmental issues are one of the top concerns of this generation. However, the survey also shows that only 33% of Gen Z have reduced their spending on fast fashion and 25% of Gen Z plan to do so.

Conclusion:

From the Shein products being accused of containing toxic substances, brands and consumers need to take a serious look at fast fashion consumption and the unpredictable consequences it brings. “Eco Fashion” or “Sustainable Fashion” will be the goal to aim for in the future, but before that can be realized, fast fashion needs to “slow down” and consumers need to be alert to adjust their demand for fast fashion consumption.

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