The truth about fast fashion giant Shein’s clothes – Readers reveal their experiences

The Chinese ultra-fast fashion chain Shein is constantly in the middle of controversy and suffers from a bad reputation. Still, many people order products from there. Now readers tell us why.

The main reason seems to be the cheap prices of clothes. Some are aware of the chain’s questionable reputation, but that is not an obstacle to shopping for clothes.

There are also satisfied customers. For some, the reason to order is that the chain’s selection of plus-size clothing is versatile.

We just wrote how Finnish Emilia found out that her photos had been used without permission in the sales announcements of a Chinese chain mired in scandals.

Consumers have also noticed the same.

Reader with nickname JK writes that “when browsing through the pictures, you notice that they have been edited.”

He has noticed that if he looks at the same garment in a different color, the model in the picture and his pose remain completely identical, which would indicate that the color of the garment has only been changed with an image manipulation.

“Furthermore, the ordered clothes are only very good copies of the clothes in the pictures,” he writes.

Many times you are not satisfied with the quality

Many have been disappointed by the poor quality of the Chinese ultra-fast fashion chain.

“Years ago, I ordered clothes from the Shein chain and didn’t know about the chain’s questionable reputation at the time. I received clothes whose fabric resembled a shower curtain and the fit was absolutely terrible. I haven’t had to think about whether I would order again”, says the name brand Fast fashion backfires.

According to many consumers, there have been considerable challenges in the fit and size classification of clothes. The product has also not always corresponded to the sales announcement.

“I once ordered two similar, but different colors, long-sleeved sweatshirts from Shein. One in size XL, and the other in size M. When the sweatshirts arrived, I noticed that their fabrics were completely different in material,” says the name brand Khsmol.

Sometimes the products haven’t even arrived. Pseudonym Alsamoi says: “All the products I ordered never arrived, but some of the items were missing from the order. One of the shirts I ordered was completely different from the sale ad on the website: it was much longer and lighter than the sales pictures. I suspect that the picture in the sales announcement was not even of the product for sale, but of something completely different.”

“I once ordered from Shein because I heard about the clothing chain from my friends and wanted to try “cheap clothes”. Well, in the end they weren’t even terribly cheap and the material of the clothes felt really uncomfortable and the fabric didn’t stretch at all. I didn’t even dare to wash the clothes because of their poor quality. As a student, it’s hard to find cheap and high-quality clothes, so I’ve switched to flea markets, because there you might find high-quality clothes for cheap”, opens the name brand The most flea-ridden his situation.

Also a nickname Yellow waterlily regrets her Shein shopping experience:

“Some years ago, I ordered two summer dresses from Shein, and as soon as the products arrived, I ran out of food. In my stupidity, I had supported an exploitative company whose products I couldn’t even use, because the fabric felt plastic and abrasive, almost like some tent fabric. However, the products had good reviews on the site, so I thought they would have been better in quality. It didn’t even make sense to return the products to Shein, as it would have been more expensive than buying the products themselves. Nowadays, I buy almost everything used, but I recycle Shein’s products even at flea markets from far away.”

“I don’t go so far as to buy clothes from ultra-fast fashion brands, because it’s just very questionable ethically and climate-wise. Of course, even though I have a middle income, unfortunately in the current situation I cannot afford to buy only products from Finnish clothing brands: the prices are far too expensive. Even if you want to! If I need some clothes, I turn to a Lindex-type fast fashion chain, which probably isn’t the best option either, but not Shein anyway,” commented the brand JMT.

Cheap prices are attractive

Shein doesn’t just get bad reviews. There are also satisfied customers. Affordable prices are one of Shein’s selling points and a reason for many to order products.

Pseudonym Mike has been mostly satisfied with the quality of the chain:

“I order a lot of products from the Shein chain and some clothes as well, but mainly other goods. I’m an experienced online shopper and I know how to watch out for most scams and, as a rule, I’ve gotten what I expected. Of course, Shein is ethically what he is, but as a poor man, he rarely has time to think about those problems. The goods have been of surprisingly good quality for a Chinese trade. Not a single item of clothing has fallen apart yet. I buy the same stuff I would buy elsewhere if I could afford it. Exactly the same items are on sale at, for example, Flying Tiger, if you’re thinking about brick-and-mortar stores.”

“I am a big consumer of Shein. I haven’t received a single bad product and I’ve ordered products everywhere, including bags, clothes, cosmetics and all kinds of things for the home. I have been surprised by the quality and durability of the products. I look at a lot of customer comments and reviews. The products have also arrived relatively quickly”, commented Life.

A 32-year-old single mother who lives on Kela’s benefits as a stay-at-home mother opens her situation with a pseudonym Mutsi:

“My financial situation is so tight that I cannot afford to buy household items or clothes at many times more expensive prices elsewhere. I have ordered from Shein many times. I am aware of the brand’s reputation. I don’t feel much shame or pangs of conscience. I have thought about it in such a way that it is not my responsibility how the company works or what the conditions are like there. It is up to the Chinese Parliament to take care of its own workforce. Another fact is that even if 25 percent of subscribers abandon Shein, their margin is still big enough that it wouldn’t bring down the company. I have been satisfied with about 3/4 of the products I ordered. All products have arrived on time. Sometimes the material of the clothes is not what is promised, which has been disappointing. But I have also received a lot of good clothes and household items. If my financial situation ever improves, I will stop supporting the company. But if not, I don’t apologize for ordering from them.”

The wide selection of plus sizes is attractive

Some are disappointed with the size selection of Finnish fashion stores, especially with regard to plus sizes, especially in brick-and-mortar stores.

Pseudonym Plus Shein comments that he buys clothes from a Chinese chain precisely because the chain has a wide and versatile selection of plus-size clothes:

“In Finland, the selection of plus-size women’s clothing is often like a tent, and you can no longer find them in nearly all brick-and-mortar stores. To top it all off, these tents cost huge sums. As a single parent, I can’t often afford these tents, which, on top of everything else, I hate. I have ordered and will continue to order from Shein, because there the selection of plus size clothes is huge and you can find everything from everyday clothes to work clothes. The clothes are beautiful and sexy. The quality is not always the best possible, but when you are careful with the measurements of the clothes and customer reviews and pictures, you usually get completely usable stuff at a good price.”

Also Laura has been particularly satisfied with Shein’s plus collections:

“I order clothes from Shein quite often. There are shapely women in our family who want to dress fashionably and showily and not, so to speak, in the tents of brick-and-mortar stores. The quality sometimes suffers, but if you are careful with the materials, you can find really good and well-fitting products at a good price. Unfortunately, it’s rare to find feminine, beautiful clothes for big girls (XL-3XL) in this country. You should be ready to wear angular tops and tops that cover a lot, and that’s sad.”