The Chinese company Shein has grown into the world’s largest fast fashion company. It is accused of several violations of responsible operations.
Shein, which sells fast fashion, aims to list on the London Stock Exchange.
According to the Reuters news agency, the Chinese company has submitted documents aimed at listing to the authorities supervising the British market. The listing is aimed for later this year.
New campaign however, strives to prevent this. The campaign appeals to the British Labor Party-led government to stop the listing project until a thorough investigation has been carried out into the company’s working conditions, environmental impact and tax practices.
The petition has been signed by 33,000 people.
Some British parliamentarians have also questioned Shein’s suitability for the stock market and demanded a stricter approach to the company’s operations.
The company itself assures that it is committed to respecting human rights and denies suspicions of, for example, the use of forced labor.
The company was criticized for unethical activities
Shein sells so-called ultra-fast fashion. Collections are changed very quickly according to customers’ wishes. However, chemicals that are harmful to health and the environment have been found in cheap clothes, as can be seen, for example, in ‘s MOT tests.
Experts promoting a more sustainable clothing industry also criticize the company for its unethical business model.
There are also reports that some of the cotton used by Shein comes from the Uyghur-inhabited Xinjiang province. China is blamed about using Uighurs for forced labor.
According to unofficial information, the company’s value is up to one hundred billion euros. The company’s marketing strategy is based on social media channels such as Tiktok.