What is Shein and what is it doing to the clothing industry? – The Explainer [Video]

16 Jan 2025

What is Shein and what is it doing to the clothing industry?

Take a look around an Irish charity shop, and it won’t be long before you find clothes from Shein. They might be completely unworn, still with their label on them. The e-commerce giant is having a huge impact on the world of clothing, causing an influx of cheap, almost disposable clothing at an unprecedented scale, driven by ease of purchase and, sometimes, the dopamine hit of a big clothes haul. Our reporter Valerie Flynn examines the societal and environmental impact of Shein, as well as the results of an investigation into how staff working on the company’s supply chain are treated.