Lexy Silverstein, a 20-year-old Los Angeles fashion student, can list the fast-fashion brand Shein’s many controversies in one breath.
Shein raked in a reported $23bn in revenue last year, while earning criticism from US lawmakers over its alleged forced labor practices. It has surpassed Amazon as the most-downloaded shopping app, even as designers have filed a Rico lawsuit, alleging the brand engages in “egregious” copyright infringement to create its cheap knock-offs. Environmental activists frequently blast the label for producing 6,000 pieces of clothing a day, contributing to the fashion industry’s enormous waste problem.
