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Yang Ding, Lecturer in Marketing, University of Reading

Why shoppers buy fast fashion even if they disagree with it

Shoppers were able to browse Shein's range in person at its first bricks-and-mortar space in Paris. Antonin Albert/Shutterstock

Every December, many shoppers plan to buy fewer things and choose more sustainable options. Yet as the month goes on, spending rises and fast fashion becomes hard to resist. Christmas has become a moment when good intentions collide with discounts and the emotional pull of seasonal fashion.

That contradiction became unusually visible when fashion giant Shein opened its first permanent shop inside the BHV department store in Paris in November. Crowds formed as shoppers tried to get in, while protesters stood outside holding signs and shouting “shame” over concerns about its ESG (environmental, social and governance) track record.

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