Eco-Test: Shein-Mode boasts only of toxic chemicals
Cheap Fashion Deals from Chinese Retailer Shein Attract German Consumers. However, Resistance Should Be Maintained. According to "Oko-Test", most of the products from a sample purchase were heavily contaminated with harmful substances. The quality is poor - some only last a day.
The goods of the Chinese retailer Shein were found to be contaminated with harmful substances according to an investigation by "Oko-Test". "Some quick bargains are just teeming with toxic chemicals", explained the testers from "Oko-Test". Out of the 21 clothing items tested, most failed, with the best products scoring "Adequate".
Eight clothing items were found by "Oko-Test" to have residual levels of harmful chemicals above the limits. A test on a children's clothing item revealed toxic antimony. "In a shiny, colorful teenager's outfit, the lab detected dimethylformamide again, which is classified as probably fertility-damaging in the EU", the testers stated. Sandals were found to be particularly contaminated, containing for example lead and cadmium.
The quality of Shein's products left the testers wanting more. Most sandals, for example, did not last longer than a day under normal use. Clothing items fell apart or shrank significantly. Three articles were found to be hand-wash only, which was not mentioned at the time of purchase.
Shein Offers Little Transparency
The testers also criticized the lack of transparency from the company: "Shein has its headquarters in Singapore now, but produces its clothing in around 5000 Chinese factories. That's pretty much all the company reveals about its production." Questionnaires from "Oko-Test" were not answered.
The retailer has been successful worldwide with its business model of producing cheap clothing and selling it at discount prices directly. However, the criticism of Shein is significant: The accusations range from systematic plagiarism to a catastrophic environmental balance to forced labor.
Despite Shein's popularity in the Shipping Trade, ensuring safe products is crucial in the Retail sector. A guide on sourcing sustainable clothing from retailers like Shein, considering their production process and adherence to safety standards, could be beneficial. However, with Shein exhibiting limited transparency regarding its manufacturing locations and practices in China, establishing such a guide might prove challenging.
