The Chinese online fashion retailer’s new headquarters will be based in Dublin, meaning Ireland’s global reputation could “be tarnished.”
That’s according to Fianna Fáil MEP Barry Andrews, who was speaking to Lunchtime Live following the announcement that SHEIN’s headquarters for the Middle East, Africa, and Europe will be set up in the capital.
“Fast fashion is contributing a lot to environmental degradation,” he said.
“If we continue with the current rate, fast fashion will contribute 25% to our overall carbon budgets by 2050.
“SHEIN ranks one of the lowest on the planet in terms of transparency and sustainability and various accusations have been made about this company.”
‘Due diligence’
Mr Andrews expressed concerns at the Government’s willingness to allow SHEIN to establish their headquarters in Ireland, amid several human rights abuse claims.
“What due diligence was carried out before Ireland's reputation was shared with this company and its commercial prospects in the future?” he said.
“[There is an] allegation that SHEIN sources cotton from the Uighur area of the Xinjiang Autonomous Region in China, and therefore, the allegation indicates that forced labour might even be in a supply chain.”
Minister for Enterprise Trade and Employment Simon Coveney, was pictured at the official opening ceremony for SHEIN, saying that he warmly welcomed the announcement that they have launched their headquarters in Dublin.
Mr Andrews said: “To what extent were these details x-rayed by the government before the decision was taken to add a bit of a ministerial lustre to the opening?”
“I really welcome foreign direct investment, we rely on it so much in this country … but we have to be careful that we don't allow our reputation to be tarnished.”
SHEIN, a global e-retailer of fashion, beauty and lifestyle products, has officially launched its Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) headquarters, based in Dublin City Centre, Ireland. Simon Coveney at the opening ceremony was joined by Ireland’s Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Photo by Shein)Global brands in Dublin
Stylist Marietta Doran said she can “appreciate that a global brand is opening their headquarters in Dublin and creating jobs.”
“At the same time, they really need to look at how they're responsible towards their sustainability,” she said.
“As a customer, I love my clothes – I look at bargains, but I now look and see how they rate as regards responsible to the environment and to the planet.
“Feel good, look good, but do good – that's going to be my philosophy going forward.”
Education
Founder of Reuzi Pat Kane said, “The whole situation with SHEIN – it lives mostly online, it lures its prey on fast-paced social media websites like TikTok and Instagram.”
“What we're lacking here is the education that second-hand is okay,” she said.
“We're never going to turn jobs down, that's really important, but a company that is making its money from irresponsible overconsumption and overproduction of goods, we need to have a very hard think and evaluate.
Ms Kane said it hurts her to see Ireland “celebrating a brand that is clearly damaging.”
“It's a brand that has been accused of working with suppliers that violate labour laws, failing to make necessary disclosures about factory conditions and labour conditions,” she said.
“How are we celebrating this and having ministers applauding? I find it appalling.”
Crowded clearance section in a clothing store, with various colorful garments placed tightly on racks in no particular order (Sundry Photography / Alamy Stock Photo)Indexes
On the fast-fashion ranking website Good On You, SHEIN currently has a ‘Very Poor’ rating in the areas of planet and workers’ rights. They have a ‘Not Good Enough’ ranking for their animal welfare policies.
In the Fashion Transparency Index 2022, SHEIN ranked at 2%, meaning they have disclosed a very limited number of policies, “which tend to be related to the brand’s hiring practices or local community engagement activities.”
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