Snapshot: Fast-Fashion Greenwashing (Read)

Shein is an online retailer founded in China that has rapidly gained popularity in the US for its low prices and easy online shopping platform. They have been under scrutiny for labor violations and high levels of lead in their clothing. A British news investigation found that some Shein workers were forced to work more than 18 hours per day. A Bloomberg news report commissioned tests that revealed some Shein garments were made with cotton from Xinjiang. Imports from Xinjiang are currently banned in the United States based on concerns about human rights abuses against Uyghurs. How has the media played a role here in cultivating better understanding of EiJ and intersecting issues? What connections are there here between labor exploitation, human rights abuses, and environmental injustice? 

In response to the scrutiny they have received, Shein led a group of diverse influencers on a greenwashing tour to China. Followers quickly called out the influencers for working with Shein, and used TikTok editing tools to add their own horrified commentary to the videos creators had made to document the tour. It’s important to note that Shein only selected Black and plus-sized influencers for this tour. What does this say about the way brands perceive plus-size creators, and creators of color? 

CHANGE PHOTO AND PUT IN CAPTION

The influencer trip also stands in contrast to the access that journalists are typically granted in China. The Foreign Correspondents' Club of China reported in March 2023 that negotiations over new visas for American reporters in China have stalled. What forms of media injustice do you see here?