Chinese online portal Shein is also looking to gain a foothold in Switzerland with a pop-up shop. The group is controversially selling fast fashion. This means clothes are designed quickly according to the trend and then cheaply produced and sold. An example: sweaters starting at 7 francs.
Shein spokesperson Charlene Lee confirmed to “Aargauer Zeitung” that Shein is looking to open a temporary pop-up store in Switzerland. “We can’t give a date for Switzerland right now, but we’re working hard to get this step done,” Lee says. It is aimed to make Shein fashion tangible for customers with pop-up branches.
The first store in Japan
In Japan, the Chinese portal recently opened a permanent store for the first time. The clothes are 200 square meters and are displayed on two floors. According to Lee, her focus remains on online business.
Shein’s fast fashion is very controversial. 9000 new articles arrive in the online store every day. Shein advertises a lot, especially on social media, and therefore attracts younger customers, especially on a small budget.
Clothes full of contaminants
Working conditions are criticized, for example, by the nonprofit Public Eye. Workers would have to sew twelve hours a day and receive only a low wage for it. In addition, Greenpeace recently pointed out that toxic chemicals are hiding in clothes.
However, that doesn’t stop anyone from ordering from Shein. Last year, the Chinese group was valued at $100 billion after a series of financings. That’s more than Spanish Zara parent Inditex and H&M combined. This makes Shein the world’s largest fashion retailer.