Influencers Criticized for Visiting Fast-Fashion Factory, Shein

A group of American influencers have received major backlash after visiting a fast-fashion model factory in China.

The trip was sponsored by Shein, a fast-fashion, internet shopping giant, and received raving reviews from the influencers. The group traveled to the city of Guangzhou to see the company’s “innovation” center complete with high-tech fabric cutters and robots that help transport materials. 

Shein offers a huge selection of clothing and accessories at extremely low prices. However, Shein along with other fast-fashion companies have received criticism over the amount of environmental waste that is created.

Kenya Freeman, one of the influencers that visited the factory, told CNN that she received so much hate online that it was affecting her mental health.

Shein is a company extremely popular with Gen Z because of advertisements on social media apps like TikTok. However, back in April, a US congressional commission introduced the idea that fast-fashion companies in China, like Shein and Temu, were potentially relying on forced labor, explosion of trade loopholes and product safety hazards.