SHEINanigan - The dark truth behind the never ending trends.
People are buying and wasting more than before. The Swiss spend second most globally on ‘Fast Fashion’ clothing, and it’s not doing any good to us, or our planet.
According to the UN, the Fast Fashion industry currently produces 10% of the global carbon emissions. Which by 2030, is expected to at least double. If we’re aiming for a greener planet, Fast Fashion becomes a big threat. Child labour, green-washing, pollution, plagiarism, lies and lawsuits are just the tip of the iceberg.
What is Fast Fashion?
Fast Fashion is an industry that serves as a label for rapidly produced, cheap and ‘trendy’ clothes. It has become an infamous phenomenon and started in the early 1990’s as an idea of post cold-war globalization in the US. The fashion industry at the time was influenced by many factors like pop culture, television and obviously the aftermath of the cold war. It grew thanks to the rise in demand for cheap and efficiently produced articles of clothing. And the industry has only been growing since.
Despite all this, fast fashion is NOT at all an issue of the past, it’s most definitely still here, worse than ever too, and it will continue to be unless we all do something about it.
Why is it so bad?
People in wealthier socio-economic groups or people of this generation with social mobility, might not be aware or educated of the impact it has on the outside world. Only during recent years has fast fashion gained recognition as a global issue. Many people choose to ignore this issue, not realizing that their favorite brands such as H&M, Zara, Bershka, Stradivarius and SHEIN are in this along with many more.
These brands have violated many human rights throught-out their ‘reign’.Child labour, bad working environments, exploitation, Green-washing, pollution and deisgn theft are quiet a popular reoccurance within these ‘trending’ companies. Especially the infamous online store SHEIN. This name is probably familiar to most of us. And whilst it’s been invovled in many conflicts in the past, things are only getting worse, as now it has become the fastest growing online clothing store worldwide. At what costs does SHEIN do it?
An example of a Fast Fashion factory with moderately bad conditions.
Child Labour
Child labour goes back a long way in history, and it’s been making a comeback. Some fast fashion companies have been hiring children who are not legal adults yet and making them work 14-16 hour shifts every week, paying them way below the minimum wage and having to endure physical and verbal abuse from their management. In addition they often work in cramped factories which are now a major fire risk,with no AC. You might ask, “Well why do they even work there if it’s so bad?” Because they have no choice. In several countries around the world children often are forced to work, making barely enough money to keep themselves and their family afloat. They can’t access basic necessities like health care and minimal nutrition. SHEIN has been known as a brand that takes advantage of this most as it works out perfectly for them. They have to pay less for more. Allowing them to have such unmatched ambition in the industry.
Pollution
SHEIN also contributes to global warming. Their clothing is cheaply made giving them a short lifespan, after, they tend to end up in landfills all over the world. Considering that SHEIN is now the biggest and fastest online store this means even more landfills, factories, gas emissions and problems.
Greenwashing labels often found on stores
Greenwashing
Moreover, despite all of these statistics and pieces of evidence being open to the public, many brands still try to mask the truth. Coming out with green-washing campaigns and extra labels trying to prove that they are ‘sustainable’ or ‘eco’. Looking at those labels and newly written website sections of ‘the journey for the better’. You might believe them without a second thought at all. Now, are they really changing? Not much evidence of that yet. These labels tend to make clothing more expensive and people easily avoid it seeing the price tag. Meaning this is truly not a solution at all, it does nothing but mislead people.
Design theft
SHEIN has been proven to steal designs from smaller creators and businesses. Not giving any credit at all. Scamming creators of income and avoiding anybody who speaks up. Lying or buying their way out of things with no shame.
What can we do about it?
Yes, young people feel pressured to fit in, keeping up with trends, ‘aesthetics’ or celebrity influence meaning ‘needing’ rather craving more. Usually the alien concepts of child labour, greenwashing, and pollution don’t enter our minds when we see a look that we want to emulate. But all is not lost. We have the power to make the changes that the generations before us failed to do. As we see the effects that climate change is having in real time across the world, we know more than ever that something needs to be done. Saying no to fast fashion is one action we can take. This doesn’t mean that you should instantly run the other way when you see a local H&M. This is about giving our clothing a longer lifespan so it doesn’t end up in a landfill. Opting for thrifting, and being mindful when buying new clothes, and where possible, finding sustainable smaller businesses to support when you can. If we all do some of these things, the fashion industry would be forced to change. We will soon start to see the benefits of doing this on the environment whilst also providing better opportunities for the children in developing countries. Trying to make a change is truly what matters and is something our generation is good at. If everyone tries, we can leverage our collective strength to change the world.
