Assignment Task 2 - SHEIN CASE STUDY
Assignment Task 2 - SHEIN CASE STUDY
Assignment Task 2 - SHEIN CASE STUDY
TOTAL: 30 MARKS
Mello, Pumzile
LECTURER
Modibedi, Lesley
TUTOR
ASSIGNMENT TASK 2
Argumentative Essay
Assignment Task 2 Brief
The rise in media and consumerism has exposed the public to faster-moving trend cycles,
which means a faster moving production cycle. Therefore, it is argued that the production
cycle of many companies such as Shein has to ultimately sacrifice things such as
sustainability and ethical issues. Write an argumentative essay answering the following
question: “Can companies such as Shein become sustainable and still be able to make a
profit simultaneously?”
Refer to the Shein Case study below and create an argument (thesis statement), which
you will then support using evidence from the case study and secondary sources.
• Introduction
The first paragraph of your essay should outline the topic, provide
background information necessary to understand your argument, outline
the evidence you will present and state your thesis statement. Remember
that the thesis statement is your complex argument condensed into one
sentence. Your thesis statement needs to be able to be well-reasoned,
researched, and strong. All facts, data and essay conjecture need to be
able to come back to prove this one-sentence thesis.
• Body
A typical argumentative essay comprises three or more paragraphs that
explain the reasons why you support your thesis. Each body paragraph
should cover a different idea or piece of evidence and contain a topic
sentence that clearly and concisely explains why the reader should agree
with your position. Body paragraphs are where you back up your claims with
examples, research, statistics, studies, and text citations (refer to the
case study below as well).
• Conclusion
One paragraph that restates your thesis statement and summarizes all the
arguments made in your body paragraphs.
It’s easy to be fashionable when you have the money to buy high-end clothing from the best brands in the
world. Unfortunately, not everyone has an unlimited budget. This is why fast fashion brands like Shein have
become incredibly popular. This China-based retailer is known for its inventory of stylish clothing and accessories
at rock-bottom prices. Shein has courted various controversies over the years, but the retailer is still currently
worth $100 billion, which is more than the combined worth of H&M and Zara, two of the most widely recognized
fashion brands in the world.
So, what is it about Shein that has caught global attention? Is it a good brand? Let’s find out.
Shein was founded by Chris Xu in China in 2008. It began as an order fulfillment business and became a clothing
retailer with products sourced from wholesale markets in Guangzhou. Shein became popular due to the combo
of affordable and fashionable products. More importantly, Shein now ships to more than 220 countries and
independent regions. In contrast, the Spanish fashion brand Zara only has a presence in 96 countries. Swedish
brand H&M is present in 74 countries.
Shein is the most popular fashion retailer in the following countries, based on web traffic:
• United States
• Brazil
• France
• Spain
• Canada
Shein also tops the list of the most visited fashion and apparel websites in the world. Rounding out the top five
are more established companies: Nike, H&M, Macy’s, and Asos.
Did you know that you can buy a top from Shein for less than $2? The biggest draw for this brand is undoubtedly
its pricing. Since its inception, the company has expanded to more than just womenswear products. Now, you
can buy highly affordable menswear, children’s clothing, accessories, and even household items from Shein.
However, Shein is not perfect. It has faced many controversies over the years.
SHEIN’S EDGE
Shein is a successful fashion retailer that wouldn’t be as big if it wasn’t for these qualities:
1. CHEAP
If you have $100, shopping with Shein can get you a huge haul of clothing and accessories. At any sustainable
fashion store, the same amount would only get you one dress.
*IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS CHEAP CLOTHING. SOMEONE SOMEWHERE IN THE
SUPPLY CHAIN IS PAYING THE PRICE.
2. WORLDWIDE SHIPPING
Shein ships to around 220 territories worldwide, giving almost all nations a chance to enjoy their trendy items.
3. BUSINESS MODEL
Shein updates its website with an average of 6,000 new items every day. The company tests the market
performance of these items by producing a few at a time and then mass-producing them when they take off.
The online retailer certainly knows how to use social media. It tapped micro-influencers to post Shein’s products
on their platforms before they brought on superstars Katy Perry, Lil Nas X, and Hailey Bieber.
Shein is incredibly popular among Gen Z shoppers, many of whom post TikToks of their Shein hauls or comparisons
of Shein and Zara products—similar designs but with a massive price difference.
Big-name brands such as Levi’s, Dr. Martens, and Ralph Lauren have filed lawsuits against Shein for copyright
infringement. Dozens of other designers have also claimed Shein stole their designs.
The UK’s 2015 Modern Slavery Act compels companies exporting products to the region to disclose the working
conditions of their factories. While Shein said it does not engage in child or forced labor, it failed to satisfy
requirements set by the UK. This issue is currently ongoing.
4. HEALTH CONCERNS
A 2021 investigation revealed that some of Shein’s clothing for children, adults, and pregnant people contained
unsafe levels of lead and other toxic chemicals. The presence of chemicals in clothes is not exclusive to Shein—
it’s common in the fast fashion industry.
5. ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
Aside from toxic chemicals, manufacturing of cheap clothing is bad for the environment because of carbon
emissions and the abundant use of water.
• CARBON EMISSIONS
The process of manufacturing apparel is responsible for 10% of the world’s carbon emissions. Almost all steps in
the clothing manufacturing process involve carbon emissions, from production in factories to transportation and
delivery. Imagine the emissions Shein is responsible for when it releases thousands of new clothing items every
day. The retailer is a huge contributor to global warming and climate change.
Shein clothing materials are also known to contain high levels of hazardous chemicals, such as lead, perfluoroalkyl
(PFA), and phthalates. They are hazardous to people’s health and cause severe damage when released into the
environment. The retailer also uses cheap synthetic materials containing microplastics, which add to the growing
pollution problem all over the world.
• THROWAWAY FASHION
Because fast fashion provides affordable apparel to the masses, you can’t expect them to be of high quality. As a
result, the products can be disposed of easily with just minor impairments. These cheap apparel just end up in
landfills. Mass-produced and cheap clothing manufactured by Shein perpetuates throwaway fashion culture that
contributes to the growing textile waste problem.
6. DATA BREACH
In 2018, Shein experienced a data breach that affected over 6,42 million people who had visited the retailer’s
website.
Fast fashion is the process of mass-producing clothes and selling them for cheap, which is Shein’s business model.
In some cases, they are mass produced as soon as they are revealed on high-end runways.
Fast fashion is awful for the environment. Here are the reasons why:
1. WATER WASTAGE
Fashion is among the top industries with the highest water consumption—around 79 billion cubic meters each
year. A single shirt requires as much as 2,720 liters of water, and around 3,781 liters for a pair of jeans. Now,
imagine how much water is used up in manufacturing all the clothing you see on Shein’s website.
2. WATER POLLUTION
Microplastics are present in clothes made with synthetic fabrics, and when they are washed, they end up polluting
the ocean. Even worse, they may end up in the stomachs of marine animals.
3. ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
The retailer is also plagued with concerns about its environmental practices:
The goal of fast fashion is to release mass-produced clothing as quickly as possible. This means thousands of
people in factories churn out copious amounts of clothing every day.
These workers are subjected to unsafe labor conditions—sweatshops are the bread and butter of fast fashion. In
some cases, factories also hire underaged children to perform cheap labor.
Shein became a global fashion trailblazer for its stylish yet affordable clothing and accessories. It supplies
customers worldwide with thousands of new options every day.
However, the global company has some questionable practices because of the nature of fast fashion, such as its
negative impact on the environment and poor working conditions. Add the issue of intellectual property rights
infractions to the mix, and trust in the brand has eroded over time.
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