"When Chinese fast-fashion online retailer Shein opened its first boutique last week there were both protests and a crowd of shoppers. The brick-and-mortar shop inside the BHV Marais department store in central Paris hit a nerve and not just because it is in the home of haute couture. It was a love-hate response to company seen in many other areas."
"Ultracheap and still duty-free Shein, which is often put in the same category as the Temu online platform that allows manufacturers to sell much more than just fashion directly to consumers, has been criticized for things like counterfeits, aggressive marketing, poor working conditions and unsafe products. Despite that many are happy for more shopping options and the cheap prices."
Shein's first Paris boutique drew both protests and shoppers, reflecting polarized reactions to ultracheap Chinese e-commerce platforms. Shein and Temu face criticism for counterfeits, aggressive marketing, poor working conditions, and unsafe products, while consumers welcome low prices and wider options. Both platforms benefit from EU duty exemptions for imports under €150, encouraging a flood of individually packed goods shipped directly from Chinese manufacturers for rapid delivery. The EU plans to close the low-value import loophole by around 2028. User numbers grew in early 2025, with Shein reporting 145 million and Temu 115 million monthly active users in the EU.
Read at www.dw.com
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