Chinese-based fast fashion giant Shein has confidentially filed to go public in the U.S. in 2024, but its filing continues to raise questions around the morality of fast fashion.

The traditional timeline for product development, production and release is around two years. However, when global giant Zara established the fast fashion model, they set a goal for a design to go from conception to purchase within 15 days.

Shein’s development timeline can be as little as 3 days, allowing them to release large quantities in and adjust production rapidly.

The company claims their model allows them to reduce waste and overproduction, but the data on fast fashion says otherwise.

Consumers are purchasing products at much higher rates and disposing of them much quicker than before.

Photo of Shein packaging.(Contributed/fashionmagazine.com)

The short production times and low-price points do not allow for great quality assurance, so most products sold only last a few wears.

The cheap materials used due not decompose easily and pile up in land fills for many years.

Outside the environmental concerns, many have criticized these companies for their use of sweat shops and poor working conditions.

Many companies will offshore their production in countries such as India and Pakistan where the pay rate for garment workers is very low. Often, workers in these factories are put in unsafe conditions for very long hours.

A worker from Pakistan told the New York Times in 2019, “It’s pretty common to get your fingers injured — sometimes needles break and get stuck in your bone if your hand gets in the way of the machine.”

The digital age has made trends and fads roll in at rapid rates, pushing consumers to constantly be purchasing and purging new products.

The rise of interest rates and new small business regulations makes this an opportune time for Shein to break into the U.S. market, but should we as consumers be uplifting these brands?

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