Influencers face backlash as the Shein factory tour contradicts the brand’s ongoing allegations. In an innovative series called Shein 101: On the Road, renowned fast-fashion giant Shein welcomed a group of influential American personalities to visit their manufacturing facilities in Guangzhou, China. This exclusive tour provided the guests with an inside look into the brand’s daily operations, showcasing pristine and spacious facilities, state-of-the-art machinery, and heartening stories from workers.
Among the invited personalities were AuJené Butler (@itsjustajlove), Marina Saavedra (@marinasaavedraa), and Dani Carbonari (@danidmc). Each individual left the experience with exuberant smiles on their faces, not only commending the company but also refuting the reports and allegations regarding their working conditions, which have since been deleted from their videos.
Reflecting on their time at the facility, Carbonari shared in a recap video, “Now, I can return home feeling reassured and confident in my partnership with Shein, as both an employee and consumer. I’m even comfortable spreading this message to my community, family, and friends.”
However, due to Shein’s long-standing accusations of forced labor, subpar working conditions, and intellectual property theft, both the influencers’ videos and Shein’s promotional content received immediate backlash and criticism for their “ignorant representation” of the company’s alleged labor practices. One commenter on Carbonari’s post wrote, “There’s no way you couldn’t have known about this company’s wrongdoing.”
A Brief Background
In October 2022, a Channel 4 documentary called “Inside the Shein Machine: UNTOLD” revealed the distressing working conditions at the Chinese retailer. The documentary, hosted by journalist Iman Amanri, exposed the reality of Shein’s factories. According to Chinese labor laws, employees are not permitted to work more than 40 hours per week. However, the documentary showed workers enduring 18-hour shifts with only one day off per month.
Apart from the grueling 90-hour workweeks, the film shed light on the meager monthly earnings of Shein’s employees, who make around 4,000 yuan (PHP 30,000). In exchange for such low wages, they are required to produce hundreds of clothing garments daily.
Following the documentary’s release, Shein pledged $15 million to enhance the physical standards in their factories after an independent investigation confirmed long working hours, with shifts extending to 13 and a half hours in one factory and 12 and a half hours in another.
The Current Situation
Since the backlash surrounding Shein 101, the featured content creators have deleted their videos, while Shein’s content remains accessible on their social media platforms. Shein expressed their disappointment at the negative response the influencers received, adding, “We aim to maintain transparency regarding our business model and operations.”
Regardless of the brand and influencers’ statements, the public remains skeptical about the authenticity of the series. A recent comment suggests, “They only showed you what they wanted you to see.” Shein now faces potential obstacles in their initial public offerings in the U.S., as several representatives have called for an independent audit from the Securities and Exchange Commission to evaluate the Chinese retailer’s labor practices.
As Shein continues its path towards becoming one of the leading fast-fashion brands globally, their persistent allegations of exploitative labor practices, inadequate wages, and design theft place them under scrutiny. This raises the question of what consumers and influencers are willing to compromise for affordable clothing and enticing deals.
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