Shein is at the center of a shocking new Channel 4 documentary exposing behind-the-scenes truths at the world’s most popular fast-fashion clothing brand.
After evolving from wedding dress wholesaler Sheinside in 2015, the Chinese online clothing retailer is the current poster child for all things fast fashion. Do you want a sexy dress for a night out, a comfortable winter sweater or a stylish pair of shoes? Shein will no doubt have you covered with their cheap products and endless supply of shares added daily to their site, indeed leading to millions of #SheinHaul hashtags on TikTok.
But while Shein may be an easy, superficial haven for all things fashion, the company has long been called into question for its ethical and environmental impacts, as well as its hugely questionable employee policies, the latest of which is the focus of the new documentary. Unreleased: Inside the Shein machine.
Presented by journalist Iman Amrani, the document exposes the human cost of the retailer’s business model by sending an undercover worker inside two supply factories in Guangzhou, UK, and what they find is shocking.
Read on to learn more about All4’s documentary, Untold: Inside The Shein Machine.
What is discovered during the investigative report of Untold: Inside The Shein Machine?
Therefore, it is important to note that according to Chinese labor laws, workers cannot work more than 40 hours per week. But in the startling revelation, workers at both factories worked 18-hour days, with shifts starting at 8 a.m. and ending early in the morning. It was also discovered that workers were only given one day off per month, with a Shein worker explaining in the documentary, “There are no Sundays here.” The undercover reporter pointed out, “The factory has a very inhumane system.”
How much are Shein workers paid?
The workers are seriously underpaid, with workers in one factory found to be earning a base wage of 4,000 yuan (approximately £492) per month to make 500 garments per day. If workers made a mistake on an item of clothing, they were penalized two-thirds of their daily wages.
With little time to do anything other than work, Channel 4 reported that the women often washed their hair during their lunch hour.
Channel 4
What else has Shein been criticized for?
The brand has also come under fire for toxic chemicals, such as lead, PFAS and phthalates found in clothing, following an investigation by Marketplace last year. They have also received criticism for stealing designs from independent designers without permission or credit and for how they handle customer data.
What has Shein said in response to the new documentary?
A representative for Shein told GLAMOUR: “We are extremely concerned about the claims made by Channel 4, which would violate the Code of Conduct agreed upon by all SHEIN suppliers. Any breach of this code is dealt with quickly and we will terminate.” associations that do not meet our standards. SHEIN’s Responsible Sourcing standards oblige our manufacturing suppliers to follow a code of conduct based on International Labor Organization conventions and local laws and regulations governing labor practices and working conditions. We work with leading independent agencies such as TUV, SGS, OpenView and Intertek to conduct unannounced audits at supplier sites. We have requested specific information from Channel 4 so that we can investigate.”
The company also launched a resale program, which they announced on the same day as the Channel 4 documentary release. This eco-friendly model with Shein Exchange encourages shoppers to buy and sell second-hand products.
However, the move is being branded as “hypocritical” online following the discovery of the Channel 4 document. One person tweeted: “48 hours after SHEIN was called out for paying their clothing manufacturers just 3p per item, they decided launch a reselling app called SHEIN Exchange to “influence and promote conscious consumption among your customers.” @SHEIN_Official: Please explain what is “Aware” of underground work?
Untold: Inside the Shein Machine is now available to watch on All 4.
Source: news.google.com