i would occasionally buy it secondhand, but i won’t even do that anymore. they allow way too many toxic materials to be in their products, plus the quality and fit is usually awful
@@joylisawall9717 same. i never have and never will. it blows my mind alot has come out about shein and them basically being a sweatshop and people still buy from them
As someone who works in data, it pisses me off SO much to see these companies using data points completely out of context to give the impression of doing something good, shifting the responsibility onto the audience to be educated or smart enough to read through the BS and realize that those numbers mean nothing. It is the role of data experts to provide context to data, and the responsibility of businesses to do better - if they feel the urge to lie, it is because they need to fix what they're doing. Really appreciate you shedding some light on this Shawna!
I have never shopped with them - and I never ever will. Also, this past month I’ve been seeing all sorts of creators on Instagram saying their art has been stolen by them. They are the top for thievery and cheap garbage.
i wish i covered this in my shein video because you're so right!! They routinely steal art from small and independent businesses all while saying they value artists and don't do it. OK
I just know there’s someone working in the data team at shein who despises their practice and works there to expose and fight the good fight. More power to them!
You mentioned H&M ugh 😩 I use to love them! Yes they’re fast fashion but for the lower budget I had the things I bought from there? I still have 15 yrs later! Back in the day it was not as much poly!! Now? They use soooo many synthetic fibers I order something once and it came and it was so thick and itchy and gross nothing like the pic!! They called it “jersey” I ONLY buy knot wear of natural fibers from them, but they tricked me with the jersey 😢😢
@@heavenj7 I know right? So frustrating!! I don't really shop there anymore, not there, not to Zara et simila. And If I do, is mostly second hand. Despite the lack of petite sizes (In my case impossible to find in there) the material really got awful. I remember seeing something that said "recycled polyester" (or something like that) and touching that thing was like touchy a sweaty dude. I was already sweaty just by looking at that material. Not to talk about the buttons, seams... I did buy from shein in the past, probably more than three years ago. The material was swimsuit-like, and let me tell you... not even that good to clean my damn floor.
It being 30c outside in late September just depresses me. (I'm a winter girl) It feels like no amount of minimalism, ethical shopping or reusables I have will make a difference against giants who don't care like Shein and Pepsi. 💔
exactly, it’s so concerning. we had 40 degree days last week :( it’s not unusual for it to still be hot in september here, but not THAT hot. i don’t remember the last time there for 40+ degree days in september, if there ever has been. it feels like the people around me are in denial about how unusual this is, and they just brush it off as “oh well it’s usually still hot this time of year”. i think a lot of people are in denial about the realities of climate change because they’re scared and it’s easier to pretend it isn’t happening
You’re absolutely correct. WE are not the real problem and the small steps we CAN take are not going to make a real impact. The real problem is corporations and governments, polluting and exploiting on a massive scale while guilting us into feeling like planet-destroyers for caving and buying the occasional clamshell package of organic strawberries. Shelbizleee says we should “do our best and advocate for the rest,” because the majority of the responsibility is in on the shoulders of corporations and governments, not us. She also says, “you cannot do all the good that the world needs, but the world needs all the good you can do.” …I hear you, Sister. I’m sweating my way to winter as well! In the meantime- let’s do what we can, but also consider voting, advocacy, and writing the occasional letter to your representatives.
Not to mention the giant amount of people that refuse to care enough to stop buying unnecessary goods from these companies. Companies are to blame but also consumer culture.
@@coolchameleon21 It's unusual, but keep in mind we're in an El Niño cycle (which is set to end and go into a La Niña as of this coming winter. El Niño years are always unusually hot, and that's also why last winter was so mild. This happens every 3-5 years. The next three years will be colder and wetter, though still hotter than a few decades ago.
i understand it's pessimistic to not expect better from brands, but if i'm being realistic, a brand whose only draw is cheap products is unlikely to do anything that would increase prices. i feel like it's a better option to convince consumers that polyester isn't worth buying and to romanticise rewearing clothing
I agree. Educating the customers is the best you can do. I feel like people who buy these cheap clothes aren’t educated enough on how bad those clothes are for the environment AND their body. There are so many studies on how many toxins are in these clothes from China, they make you sick, it’s not worth it.
I do not get how everyone isn’t as sensitive to it as I am!? Ha I can’t even when I was young I remember my mom putting something poly on me and I hated how it felt and I just cried and cried!!! Ehh
i agree. I purchased from them a few times before knowing about their practices. I will not ever purchase again and really try to get most items second hand. But I do use the already purchased items because discarding them would be even more wasteful. When you know better, you do better!
@@reno5964 same second hand I always look there first!! I’ve grown a lot the last few years I also when dealing with certain stores if I’m noticing more crappy fabrics etc I make sure to shout it on their websites and in the reviews!!
I dont want to be a betty downer but recycle paper is still rare and not good quality my husband worked in the wood industry and now in the publishing industry and "paper" is a big topic in his business and to create a good quality paper with recycle paper is nearly impossible unless it contained a really low pourcentage (like less then 10%) Findland have the best "recycle paper" but the machinery cost a lot and still the pourcentage is less then 50%. *(I dont know the exact % but they still need the majority of the paper to contained wood pulpe) Anyway packaging is problematic and if a business is saying they are using "recycle paper" it might be true but dont be fool and dont justified your purchased or do not have good conscience because you are buying stuff from a company that using less then 5% of recycle paper for packaging.
A multi-billion company can afford to work faster to become more eco-friendly, people need to stop coddling these businesses. It is wild that the CEO is proud of that..like is he being sarcastic? Putting up a front? Uneducated? Or knows what he's doing? I miss when we hated Temu and Shein
THE PERCENTAGES OF RECYCLED POLYESTER AND FOREST-SAFE VISCOSE ARE ALL RIGGED - HERE'S WHY. (includes boring math) the overall 11 percent for recycled polyester and forest-safe viscose is factually incorrect. because even in the odd-case scenario that the 6 percent of recycled polyester and 5 percent of forest-safe viscose were, indeed, 6 and 5 percent of the ENTIRE CATALOGUE of fibers used, it does NOT mean that the real amounts of these fabrics being combined is 11 percent of the entire fabric catalogue. the addition of percents does not work like that. 5 percent plus 6 percent equals 11 percent POINTS, which are just the numbers of percents, not the real actual amount of what the percent is for. in short, 5 percent of forest-safe viscose + 6 percent of recycled polyester = 11 percent UNITS of fabrics, ≠ 11 percent of all fabrics in production. not to mention the fact that the amounts for 5 percent and 6 percent in these cases are not even derived from the overall amount of fabrics used in production but rather the amount of THAT SPECIFIC FABRIC used in production. this would be the most accurate process of calculating the actual amount of eco-friendly fibers SHEIN use in their production: of all fibers in production (100%), 75,5% percent is polyester. of this 75.5%, 6% is recycled polyester. of all fibers (100%), 8% is viscose. of this 5% is forest-safe viscose. x = overall amount of fibers x times 0,75.5 = 0,755x (polyester) 0,755x times 0,06 = 0,0453x (recycled polyester) x times 0,08 = 0,08x (viscose) 0,08x times 0,05 = 0,004x (forest-safe viscose) 0,004x + 0,0453x = TOTAL OF RECYCLED POLYESTER AND FOREST-SAFE VISCOSE USED IN PRODUCTION the entire chart for percentages of fabrics is fucked up, and SHEIN have made it intentionally difficult to read so that we wouldn't know the real amount of eco-friendly fibers being used. // i actually suck at math big time but percentages were the only thing i learned properly and have had to use many a time since, so i guess good for me bc now i get to write useless comments like this on youtube comment sections. you're welcome LMAO
@@joylisawall9717 I think it's attributed to Henry Ford "I know that half of my advertising is a waste of money, I just don't know which half". As you don't seem to like Shein ads, you've just seen a part of that half. And even better, if it runs long enough to make them pay it, the money goes to Shawna so she can make more videos like this one.
Regarding that statistic of how many shipments there are going to the US by multiplying the July stat by 12, it's probably higher than that. I would imagine the number of shipments would go up dramatically in November and December for Black Friday and Christmas shopping.
Im done shopping at forever 21. I know it's not Shein, but its the same fast fashion. And it's problematic. I only get my basics from there, but there are other places to buy them, and actually have the items last due to better quality; it will cut down on me buying the same things a few times a year because of bad no quality. Im starting to really not enjoy shopping anymore because I feel im contributing to the mess. :(
The numbers are terrifying!!! The thing so meany people miss - and with Temu too - is that the stuff is the start of the chain and the prices are so cheap because it has not gone further through the 'branding' - and 'packaging' that is the end of the chain in the High street fashion cheap shops. You can buy (guilty) something on Shein / Temu for - say £3 - and the exact same thing is £9 on Amazon -- £12 in the 'designer' section. Just about all the stuff is made in China these days - and dressed up to look better than it is. Buying it in your local independent store does not solve the problem. The basic issue is we just don't need all this stuff - all the time. Make it last - wear and wear it - don't just buy - dump - buy - dump.
I don’t shop there, I did have a brief period where I was broke and I tried them and I was plus size then. I get the plus gals who feel like they have no other place to shop ( they do you just have to look 😢) my one experience was: the fabrics made my skin crawl they smelled funny and never again!! I’m fussy about fabrics and what I don’t get? Is how are they still popular?? I get the no initial interest but eww?? And then when people became more aware of how bad they really were ? How??! It’s just sad people still don’t get it!? They’re wasteful the US is wasteful it’s just sad
@@heavenj7 the itchiness and generall gross feeling of the clothes should be enough to never buy there imo. Adding to that all the toxic chemicals in the clothing and of course all of the aspects of production hell I can't comprehend how anyobody still buys stuff from them.
"Microtrends are antithetical to sustainability" so well said! At the core of it these microtrends, whether it's clothing or other commodities really feed into the overconsumption which frictions sustainability measures. Appreciate the way you articulate your points! :)
about the viscose percentages - 8 percent of the entire catalogue of fabrics and fibers is viscose. 5 percent of all of the VISCOSE is forest-safe. meaning, 95 percent of all of the viscose is not forest-safe. that's why the 5 percent of forest-safe viscose is underneath the boldened overall category of all viscose fibers in production. you can compare the chart to a table of nutrient facts on any food item.
On the one hand you have these middle aged Chinese businessmen who probably grew up poor, they probably don’t have a tertiary education, they’re from a culture of extreme hard work and profit at all costs, where money is respect and power and you can just bribe judges not to throw you in gaol, they are not programmed to do business ethically. Then on the other hand you have young consumers who think they aren’t the problem and that they deserve their massive shien hauls. You almost can’t expect either party to be ethical. This is why people say “there’s no ethical consumption under capitalism”, it’s up to an objective well informed government to force these people to stop.
When I hear "they're a company. What do you expect?" I think that we shouldn't expect THEM to fix themselves. WE need to force them to do better. Like, we can't expect it to happen internally. I don't know if that's what people mean, but that's what I hear. So it's like "yeah, of course they're not doing enough on their own. We have to find some way to stop them."
Never ordered from there and never will. Can’t understand why you’d shop there fully knowing half of the stuff won’t fit and all of it is shitty quality.
It’s laughable to think SHEIN would actually willingly cut emissions in half by 2050. The whole reason they pick a date so far off is because they know they will never be held accountable for it. Either their business will fall into financial ruin for one reason or another, otherwise they will continue to increase emissions.
There was a time i was considering buying from Shein before I knew all about this a year or two ago, but I put it off again and again and now I'm glad I hesitated.
I only purchased from shein when we were broke, but after I heard the stuff about it I never bought again. I look at the stuff at home whenever I want to buy something and then I decide I don’t need anything new.
I think the percentage at around 13 min is more like this: lets say 100 is the total number of fabrics. 76% of that is polyester and 6 is viscose which would mean 76 and 6 units of fabrics, right? Now, if I consider 5% of those 76 units of polyester the actual number is 3.8 units are recycled. The other 6% out of those 6 units of fabrics would be .36 units of viscose. The total recycled fabric (between polyester and viscose) is about 4.16 units (out the initial 100). Math is not my greatest strength tho so pls consider this lol
I thought you did a good job summarizing the article from Grist! Whether someone buys from shein or not at this point is a bit of a moot point when we should all slow down our buying-discarding cycles regardless of where we get our clothes from. I say it's a moot point because shein yes is one of the worst bad actors out there but most retailers have converted to a fast fashion model (aja barber talks about this in her lectures as well as the author of the day the world stops shopping). We need more content like yours and will be supporting your channel and engage meaningfully!
Deff sharing this to to my friends and family. I was on the cusp of placing a big SHEIN order even though i knew it was wrong, then I saw this. This is so terrifying, I hope the next time I get the urge to order from that site, I will remember this
I have exactly 2 pieces of clothing from SHEIN that I do like and wear. However that’s only 2 out of 10+ that I purchased in the past…. Because the quality is actually terrible and didn’t fit right….we can all learn from our mistakes. I for one am slowly eliminating the amount of polyester I have in my closet. In other words I’ll keep what I currently have until the pieces reach their end. Going forward I do want to be very mindful of what does come in and I have decided to only want natural fibres.
I added up the numbers for the textiles and they only add up if you read it the way you did. But you made a tiny mistake explaining it, 5% of 8% doesn't mean that only 3% is non forest safe. 5% is 1/20th of however much 8% is. So for example, if they have 100 shirts made of viscose in total, only 5 of them will be forest safe viscose. 😅
Big business fashion hates shein, they cut the middle man out of fast fashion. Does their production only provide for seeing, or do they also produce for other outlets.
I regret buying there when I was younger. It was much cheaper than it is nowadays, but I didn't have a lot of money and loved getting trendy clothes to fit in. I regret it because most of the things are broken and terrible quality. Haven't bought there for a few years now and it's so so much better just buying in store which is sometimes cheaper and much better quality. I still have a few pieces from shein which I do wear occasionally, but damn.
honestly, I got a couple of hoodies from them 3 years ago, and I have worn them nearly every day, they don't look perfect anymore but they are still pretty good. But I still regret buying from a corporation so environmentally damaging.
Ill never buy from any of these places, it makes me so sad as a small business who tries so hard to not cause damage. I buy from small businesses because i know where they stand and also stops me over buying and stops me buying what i don't need. But even then i look into each business before hand 😅.
I think it's down right idiotic to give more breaks to companies with tons of resources and money to make change when we are so harsh on individuals who have less on an ability to make those better changes. If your gonna talk shit to your neighbor Susan for buying paper plates you better carry that backbone to absolutely scream at companies who put profit over all else. unless a lot of people decide to care about the environment and our species as a whole real fast i fear we may be watching the onset of the end. Genuinely no exaggeration.
I’m wondering if I’m cynical or just aware of how people like this operate because my first thought was “did they have the same emissions goal last year, but based on 2022 numbers?”
The issue with provoking environmental action from companies like this is that finger-wagging just isn't enough. One story and a PR comment later talking about a roadmap and everything is okay. Keeping a conversation going isn't enough either IMO. Some people may have forgotten by now, but Bud Light fans sunk that company with spite and prejudice. It wasn't just a thing of bullying the company's PR department on twitter. Anyone that you saw drinking Bud Light or saying things like "oh it's not that big of a deal" got ostracized and shamed. Doesn't matter if they are your brother or co-worker. "If you bring any of that trash around me or mine we're gonna have a problem" The energy was insane. But it worked. Now flip that for Shein. Ignoring the fact that activists are toothless most of the time, could anyone really buckle down and treat their friends and acquaintances with that kind of energy? Not strangers, they don't care what you think, but the people around you? If your best friend was a Shein customer what is the farthest you'd go? A calm conversation that ends with a "agree to disagree" I'd assume. I'm not saying become an extremist. But when YOU are the target demographic for a store or brand, the only dollar they want is yours. Your greatest super power under capitalism is to vote with your wallet and you struggle to use that power. Or worse, you struggle to influence those close to you to use that power. From where I'm sitting, as a guy who somehow got this video in my recommendations despite not caring about fashion or shopping in general, the answer is brutally simple. Stop buying Shein. Stop watching hauls. Stop commenting or subbing to channels that engage with Shein. Stop thinking about what clothes you may or may not find on Shein. And most importantly, get your family and friends on the same train. DOES work. You don't NEED to be helpless or wait for regulations. You just need the willpower to actually commit. I'm pessimistic on if anyone actually will tho. Hope it works out for y'all. GL.
Unfortunately I think as the cost of living/goods rises, and peoples consumption of fashion stays the same shein will only become more popular as it stays one of the more affordable options 🙄
I don’t understand- EVERYONE dogs on Shein SO HARD- so WHO is still buying this shit?! Apparently people are saying one thing and doing another. Quit buying this garbage already! It’s sad! (I’d like to say for the record- I have never purchased from them and I never will.)
@@me4011 just stick to the thrift, it's genuinely the best option. Make a list of criteria for material, stitch quality, and so forth. Start early in the day and flip through every single hanger, don’t just scan for something to catch your eye because all the best stuff is hiding. Sometimes, you'll leave empty-handed. Most times, you'll leave with 2-5 items. After about a year, you'll have a solid wardrobe with items that are durable and can last your entire life if you take care of it, and then you'll stop needing to replace things. You can get to a point where you only get new clothes when your weight changes a lot or you decide to pass the garment on to someone else and get a better one for yourself. Most of my clothing is designer or high-end vintage and still looks new regardless of how many times I wear it, but I don't think I own anything that costs more than $15
It’s great not to buy for any of them and that’s great, but everything in this country in every store is all made in China. I saw a women attempt to not buy anything from China for a year and she was diehard and couldn’t do it.
I like your message messaging on overconsumption, but you lost me with the climate change freak out. I buy from shein once or twice a year… I don’t feel bad about it.
I do just want to add a point to dampen the fear from a different perspective. When I was little, we were told that if we didn’t save electricity, we would go to turn the light switch on later, and there would be no electricity. I was so, so scared - I remember being in first grade and being genuinely scared to turn lights on. I’m just giving some perspective on fear.
You know what amuses me most about such posts is that people fail to see the issue cooking under their nose . Take war for example the amount of carbon emission and pollution created is always ignored but we like to target asian based markets for over consumption . Perhaps it is time we reflect on all the arms deals that are being signed all around the world
I think the difference is that we can make this known and possibly change Sheins practices as consumers. I can’t stop war, but I can make sure I don’t buy fast fashion and encourage others similarly. Also, you can be against war AND Shein. It’s not an either/or thing
I agree! I think fashion pollution gets a lot of attention on social media because it is low hanging fruit for a lot of people who are already fashion consumers and maybe trying to reduce their consumption. There's a lot more learning and hard truths wrapped up in warfare and geopolitical issues than I think the average person wants to deal with. It sucks. And I don't agree with the commenter who said you can change the fashion industry but not warfare--I disagree, and I think that mindset is the same kind of apathy Shawna was talking about in her video. You can vote, you can protest, you can write letters to your congressman. At the end of the day, we are up against big machines and big systems that are hard to change, but if you say there is nothing you can do about it, whether it is Shein or genocide in Gaza, you are playing into apathy, nihilism, and despair. If you can educate yourself about fashion, what is stopping you from reading the news or a Wikipedia article about a conflict or a country's history?
Maybe it also has something to do with the average fashion consumer being female whereas war is a very male enterprise so it gets treated as a fact of life… maybe this is a bit of a stretch lol
@@milesfurther4395 I think you’re right! I’ve noticed that even men who are influencers don’t get anywhere near as much criticism about overconsumption. And you see similar patterns with gendered interests, like fashion (which is currently stereotypically feminine) has a lot of conversations about sustainability but I almost never hear it in relation to gaming and tech (currently stereotypically masculine) - even though it’s a massive concern. The only yt channel I’ve ever seen it talked about on is run by a woman, and even then the discussion isn’t as in depth There’s also some research about gender and attitudes towards environmentalism that you might find interesting. Ecofeminism might be another interesting topic too!
These videos don't sit well with me as someone who rides a damn bike and walks every single day to get by, meanwhile people who live in other countries drive their cars to get their coffee and are complaining about fast fashion. Let's normalize making more videos about the impact on fuel for heating and transportation, let's talk more and pressure the industry to find alternative ways to minimize the biggest pollution that's damaging our planet. The US is the largest oil consumer. We shame everything if it's China doing it or other countries, meanwhile wtf you guys in the US doing? Some people benefit SO MUCH from affordable clothing and don't overconsume. But it's "trendy" to bash fast fashion, especially shein. Some people can't afford to clothe themselves!
sad thing is its about the only thing that decent and cheap for my style... I would spend on vampire freaks for all my outfits if i could. sadly I have to keep using shien
You don't have to, you just want to and don't care enough to change. You could easily thrift and/or buy fewer items that are better quality. Shein isn't even that good of a deal. There are plenty of other companies out there that make clothes at the same price point but with better materials.
@@Hippodameia i bearly have enough for food, i do fucking care there just isnt that many affordable clothing sites.. dont talk shit you dont know im a college student have student loans im paying for rent utlitys, insurance and medical stuff... so tell me what other cheap website i can use for my clothes? You have no idea what your talking about for my style i have 3 options and i need clothes i dont over buy i get what i need only.. so no there rlly isnt. Tell me what are other websites, are areas i can buy decent emo/goth clothes without spending 100 dollars for a single dress. Name 1 and ill start using it instead gladly. Not everyone has the luxuary to be able to think about these things many of us have no choice. You are privileged af to be able to care, I wish i had other options If i go to amazon they are charging as much or more than even vampire freaks or dolls kill
@@Hippodameia name 1- or 2 websites i can use that's affordable that isnt shein. You are privileged to be able to think like that. I am in school having to pay to the college every month, I bearly am able to spend 200 dollars a month on food. + Utlitys add up + doctors and medication. I don't have the luxury of choice to name 1 other site i c an use for gothic/emo style clothes. I cant get out of the house due to physical issues with spending another 100 dollars so rlly you going to say that
@@HippodameiaI don’t defend fast fashion but thrifting is very difficult to do now since the stupid resellers take all the good clothes and actually thrift stores are FILLED with SHEIN clothes nowadays. Coming from a girlie in her mid 20’s who used to have to thrift from being broke as a kid and is still broke, but I have to save up to buy clothes now since thrift stores suck now.
I personally refuse to purchase it. Never have, never will.
me too👍
i would occasionally buy it secondhand, but i won’t even do that anymore. they allow way too many toxic materials to be in their products, plus the quality and fit is usually awful
@@joylisawall9717 same. i never have and never will. it blows my mind alot has come out about shein and them basically being a sweatshop and people still buy from them
me too!
Same for me!
As someone who works in data, it pisses me off SO much to see these companies using data points completely out of context to give the impression of doing something good, shifting the responsibility onto the audience to be educated or smart enough to read through the BS and realize that those numbers mean nothing. It is the role of data experts to provide context to data, and the responsibility of businesses to do better - if they feel the urge to lie, it is because they need to fix what they're doing. Really appreciate you shedding some light on this Shawna!
I have never shopped with them - and I never ever will. Also, this past month I’ve been seeing all sorts of creators on Instagram saying their art has been stolen by them. They are the top for thievery and cheap garbage.
i wish i covered this in my shein video because you're so right!! They routinely steal art from small and independent businesses all while saying they value artists and don't do it. OK
I just know there’s someone working in the data team at shein who despises their practice and works there to expose and fight the good fight. More power to them!
You mentioned H&M ugh 😩 I use to love them! Yes they’re fast fashion but for the lower budget I had the things I bought from there? I still have 15 yrs later! Back in the day it was not as much poly!!
Now? They use soooo many synthetic fibers I order something once and it came and it was so thick and itchy and gross nothing like the pic!! They called it “jersey” I ONLY buy knot wear of natural fibers from them, but they tricked me with the jersey 😢😢
@@heavenj7 I know right? So frustrating!! I don't really shop there anymore, not there, not to Zara et simila. And If I do, is mostly second hand. Despite the lack of petite sizes (In my case impossible to find in there) the material really got awful. I remember seeing something that said "recycled polyester" (or something like that) and touching that thing was like touchy a sweaty dude. I was already sweaty just by looking at that material. Not to talk about the buttons, seams...
I did buy from shein in the past, probably more than three years ago. The material was swimsuit-like, and let me tell you... not even that good to clean my damn floor.
It being 30c outside in late September just depresses me. (I'm a winter girl)
It feels like no amount of minimalism, ethical shopping or reusables I have will make a difference against giants who don't care like Shein and Pepsi. 💔
exactly, it’s so concerning. we had 40 degree days last week :( it’s not unusual for it to still be hot in september here, but not THAT hot. i don’t remember the last time there for 40+ degree days in september, if there ever has been. it feels like the people around me are in denial about how unusual this is, and they just brush it off as “oh well it’s usually still hot this time of year”. i think a lot of people are in denial about the realities of climate change because they’re scared and it’s easier to pretend it isn’t happening
You’re absolutely correct. WE are not the real problem and the small steps we CAN take are not going to make a real impact. The real problem is corporations and governments, polluting and exploiting on a massive scale while guilting us into feeling like planet-destroyers for caving and buying the occasional clamshell package of organic strawberries.
Shelbizleee says we should “do our best and advocate for the rest,” because the majority of the responsibility is in on the shoulders of corporations and governments, not us.
She also says, “you cannot do all the good that the world needs, but the world needs all the good you can do.”
…I hear you, Sister. I’m sweating my way to winter as well! In the meantime- let’s do what we can, but also consider voting, advocacy, and writing the occasional letter to your representatives.
Not to mention the giant amount of people that refuse to care enough to stop buying unnecessary goods from these companies. Companies are to blame but also consumer culture.
@@CampingforCool41companies created our consumer culture, if we would only buy what we want we woudnt have ads and paid influenzers
@@coolchameleon21 It's unusual, but keep in mind we're in an El Niño cycle (which is set to end and go into a La Niña as of this coming winter. El Niño years are always unusually hot, and that's also why last winter was so mild. This happens every 3-5 years. The next three years will be colder and wetter, though still hotter than a few decades ago.
i understand it's pessimistic to not expect better from brands, but if i'm being realistic, a brand whose only draw is cheap products is unlikely to do anything that would increase prices. i feel like it's a better option to convince consumers that polyester isn't worth buying and to romanticise rewearing clothing
I agree. Educating the customers is the best you can do. I feel like people who buy these cheap clothes aren’t educated enough on how bad those clothes are for the environment AND their body. There are so many studies on how many toxins are in these clothes from China, they make you sick, it’s not worth it.
I do not get how everyone isn’t as sensitive to it as I am!? Ha I can’t even when I was young I remember my mom putting something poly on me and I hated how it felt and I just cried and cried!!! Ehh
i agree. I purchased from them a few times before knowing about their practices. I will not ever purchase again and really try to get most items second hand. But I do use the already purchased items because discarding them would be even more wasteful. When you know better, you do better!
@@reno5964 same second hand I always look there first!! I’ve grown a lot the last few years I also when dealing with certain stores if I’m noticing more crappy fabrics etc I make sure to shout it on their websites and in the reviews!!
@@heavenj7I bet you could also feel a pea under 10 mattresses.
I dont want to be a betty downer but recycle paper is still rare and not good quality my husband worked in the wood industry and now in the publishing industry and "paper" is a big topic in his business and to create a good quality paper with recycle paper is nearly impossible unless it contained a really low pourcentage (like less then 10%) Findland have the best "recycle paper" but the machinery cost a lot and still the pourcentage is less then 50%. *(I dont know the exact % but they still need the majority of the paper to contained wood pulpe) Anyway packaging is problematic and if a business is saying they are using "recycle paper" it might be true but dont be fool and dont justified your purchased or do not have good conscience because you are buying stuff from a company that using less then 5% of recycle paper for packaging.
thank you for this!
thank you for this extra info!
A multi-billion company can afford to work faster to become more eco-friendly, people need to stop coddling these businesses. It is wild that the CEO is proud of that..like is he being sarcastic? Putting up a front? Uneducated? Or knows what he's doing? I miss when we hated Temu and Shein
You should wear navy more often, it looks so good on you! Great video as always
THE PERCENTAGES OF RECYCLED POLYESTER AND FOREST-SAFE VISCOSE ARE ALL RIGGED - HERE'S WHY. (includes boring math)
the overall 11 percent for recycled polyester and forest-safe viscose is factually incorrect. because even in the odd-case scenario that the 6 percent of recycled polyester and 5 percent of forest-safe viscose were, indeed, 6 and 5 percent of the ENTIRE CATALOGUE of fibers used, it does NOT mean that the real amounts of these fabrics being combined is 11 percent of the entire fabric catalogue. the addition of percents does not work like that. 5 percent plus 6 percent equals 11 percent POINTS, which are just the numbers of percents, not the real actual amount of what the percent is for.
in short, 5 percent of forest-safe viscose + 6 percent of recycled polyester = 11 percent UNITS of fabrics, ≠ 11 percent of all fabrics in production.
not to mention the fact that the amounts for 5 percent and 6 percent in these cases are not even derived from the overall amount of fabrics used in production but rather the amount of THAT SPECIFIC FABRIC used in production.
this would be the most accurate process of calculating the actual amount of eco-friendly fibers SHEIN use in their production:
of all fibers in production (100%), 75,5% percent is polyester. of this 75.5%, 6% is recycled polyester.
of all fibers (100%), 8% is viscose. of this 5% is forest-safe viscose.
x = overall amount of fibers
x times 0,75.5 = 0,755x (polyester)
0,755x times 0,06 = 0,0453x (recycled polyester)
x times 0,08 = 0,08x (viscose)
0,08x times 0,05 = 0,004x (forest-safe viscose)
0,004x + 0,0453x = TOTAL OF RECYCLED POLYESTER AND FOREST-SAFE VISCOSE USED IN PRODUCTION
the entire chart for percentages of fabrics is fucked up, and SHEIN have made it intentionally difficult to read so that we wouldn't know the real amount of eco-friendly fibers being used.
// i actually suck at math big time but percentages were the only thing i learned properly and have had to use many a time since, so i guess good for me bc now i get to write useless comments like this on youtube comment sections. you're welcome LMAO
@@palasiksivain tysm for doing the maths for us!
@@EmL-kg5gn no worries! :)
"what do you expect, it's a company?" - it's called Company's Social Responsibility And Accountability!
About Shawna editing…It is up to the consumer. You are absolutely correct!
OMG now I am getting Shein adds….grrrr
@@joylisawall9717 I think it's attributed to Henry Ford "I know that half of my advertising is a waste of money, I just don't know which half". As you don't seem to like Shein ads, you've just seen a part of that half. And even better, if it runs long enough to make them pay it, the money goes to Shawna so she can make more videos like this one.
Regarding that statistic of how many shipments there are going to the US by multiplying the July stat by 12, it's probably higher than that. I would imagine the number of shipments would go up dramatically in November and December for Black Friday and Christmas shopping.
you're probably right! I was just using lower estimates to showcase how even that is insane!
Makes me so happy I haven't shopped there and told others not to shop there
Im done shopping at forever 21.
I know it's not Shein, but its the same fast fashion. And it's problematic. I only get my basics from there, but there are other places to buy them, and actually have the items last due to better quality; it will cut down on me buying the same things a few times a year because of bad no quality.
Im starting to really not enjoy shopping anymore because I feel im contributing to the mess. :(
The numbers are terrifying!!! The thing so meany people miss - and with Temu too - is that the stuff is the start of the chain and the prices are so cheap because it has not gone further through the 'branding' - and 'packaging' that is the end of the chain in the High street fashion cheap shops. You can buy (guilty) something on Shein / Temu for - say £3 - and the exact same thing is £9 on Amazon -- £12 in the 'designer' section. Just about all the stuff is made in China these days - and dressed up to look better than it is. Buying it in your local independent store does not solve the problem. The basic issue is we just don't need all this stuff - all the time. Make it last - wear and wear it - don't just buy - dump - buy - dump.
I don’t shop there, I did have a brief period where I was broke and I tried them and I was plus size then. I get the plus gals who feel like they have no other place to shop ( they do you just have to look 😢) my one experience was: the fabrics made my skin crawl they smelled funny and never again!! I’m fussy about fabrics and what I don’t get? Is how are they still popular?? I get the no initial interest but eww?? And then when people became more aware of how bad they really were ? How??! It’s just sad people still don’t get it!? They’re wasteful the US is wasteful it’s just sad
@@heavenj7 the itchiness and generall gross feeling of the clothes should be enough to never buy there imo. Adding to that all the toxic chemicals in the clothing and of course all of the aspects of production hell I can't comprehend how anyobody still buys stuff from them.
@@vanrir6866 yessss one time was all I needed to know how can anyone stand this shit!?? But I do realize some people are desperate? I guess yikes 😱
watching this video and getting shein and temu ad every 15 minutes is actually pissing me off 😭
"Microtrends are antithetical to sustainability" so well said! At the core of it these microtrends, whether it's clothing or other commodities really feed into the overconsumption which frictions sustainability measures. Appreciate the way you articulate your points! :)
I am sickened by this company. Never bought from them and will discourage others from engaging with this monster.
I didn't know Shein was so popular. I rarely hear anyone talk about it in my day-to-day life.
I hope by 2030 SHEIN will be a ghost of the past.
about the viscose percentages - 8 percent of the entire catalogue of fabrics and fibers is viscose. 5 percent of all of the VISCOSE is forest-safe. meaning, 95 percent of all of the viscose is not forest-safe. that's why the 5 percent of forest-safe viscose is underneath the boldened overall category of all viscose fibers in production. you can compare the chart to a table of nutrient facts on any food item.
On the one hand you have these middle aged Chinese businessmen who probably grew up poor, they probably don’t have a tertiary education, they’re from a culture of extreme hard work and profit at all costs, where money is respect and power and you can just bribe judges not to throw you in gaol, they are not programmed to do business ethically. Then on the other hand you have young consumers who think they aren’t the problem and that they deserve their massive shien hauls. You almost can’t expect either party to be ethical. This is why people say “there’s no ethical consumption under capitalism”, it’s up to an objective well informed government to force these people to stop.
When I hear "they're a company. What do you expect?" I think that we shouldn't expect THEM to fix themselves. WE need to force them to do better. Like, we can't expect it to happen internally. I don't know if that's what people mean, but that's what I hear. So it's like "yeah, of course they're not doing enough on their own. We have to find some way to stop them."
We're doomed. This is never getting fixed. The higher-ups are too selfish.
I've been thinking this too and it's so scary...
been bingewatching your channel for days! I appreciate these videos so much
Thank you so much Tiffany! I'm a really big fan of channel and very much appreciate your comment!
I love your channel more and more every day💝always saying the quiet part out loud you’re the best!
You just reminded me to delete the app from my phone 👍🏼
Never ordered from there and never will. Can’t understand why you’d shop there fully knowing half of the stuff won’t fit and all of it is shitty quality.
It’s laughable to think SHEIN would actually willingly cut emissions in half by 2050. The whole reason they pick a date so far off is because they know they will never be held accountable for it. Either their business will fall into financial ruin for one reason or another, otherwise they will continue to increase emissions.
Hello from Australia! It’s 1am 😭 cant wait for this
This is actually horrifying and I wish more people were aware of it. I appreciate your videos!!
There was a time i was considering buying from Shein before I knew all about this a year or two ago, but I put it off again and again and now I'm glad I hesitated.
Hope you make a video on companies you recommend shopping at sustainably besides the thrift stores
I only purchased from shein when we were broke, but after I heard the stuff about it I never bought again. I look at the stuff at home whenever I want to buy something and then I decide I don’t need anything new.
HELP I LITERALLY GOT A SHEIN AD BEFORE THIS 😭😭
Thank you for this!
I think that was trudeau intention with the carbon tax but it doesn't seem to be working...
I really appreciate the effort and research that has gone in to this video 🧡
thank you!
I think the percentage at around 13 min is more like this: lets say 100 is the total number of fabrics. 76% of that is polyester and 6 is viscose which would mean 76 and 6 units of fabrics, right? Now, if I consider 5% of those 76 units of polyester the actual number is 3.8 units are recycled. The other 6% out of those 6 units of fabrics would be .36 units of viscose. The total recycled fabric (between polyester and viscose) is about 4.16 units (out the initial 100).
Math is not my greatest strength tho so pls consider this lol
I thought you did a good job summarizing the article from Grist! Whether someone buys from shein or not at this point is a bit of a moot point when we should all slow down our buying-discarding cycles regardless of where we get our clothes from. I say it's a moot point because shein yes is one of the worst bad actors out there but most retailers have converted to a fast fashion model (aja barber talks about this in her lectures as well as the author of the day the world stops shopping). We need more content like yours and will be supporting your channel and engage meaningfully!
Deff sharing this to to my friends and family. I was on the cusp of placing a big SHEIN order even though i knew it was wrong, then I saw this. This is so terrifying, I hope the next time I get the urge to order from that site, I will remember this
I have exactly 2 pieces of clothing from SHEIN that I do like and wear. However that’s only 2 out of 10+ that I purchased in the past…. Because the quality is actually terrible and didn’t fit right….we can all learn from our mistakes. I for one am slowly eliminating the amount of polyester I have in my closet. In other words I’ll keep what I currently have until the pieces reach their end. Going forward I do want to be very mindful of what does come in and I have decided to only want natural fibres.
they also put each clothing item in individual plastic bags which thinking of how much garbage it creates is insane
Greed is not an excuse for good commerce
I added up the numbers for the textiles and they only add up if you read it the way you did. But you made a tiny mistake explaining it, 5% of 8% doesn't mean that only 3% is non forest safe. 5% is 1/20th of however much 8% is. So for example, if they have 100 shirts made of viscose in total, only 5 of them will be forest safe viscose. 😅
Big business fashion hates shein, they cut the middle man out of fast fashion.
Does their production only provide for seeing, or do they also produce for other outlets.
I’m curious about your last point because I’ve noticed other fast fashion companies drop their quality on some items since shein became popular
I've read somewhere that they also want to produce for other brands. But I might have mixed things up here.
I 100% judge people who buy their clothes. Don’t care what kind of mental gymnastics they wanna do to defend themselves.
millions of shipments also all items packaged individualy in plastic. imagine amount of plastic garbage that creates!
Awesome content as always, Shawna!
I'm so excited for Fall Fashion. The problem I am finding myself in though is that it is still far too hot to even start wearing fall fashion.
I regret buying there when I was younger. It was much cheaper than it is nowadays, but I didn't have a lot of money and loved getting trendy clothes to fit in. I regret it because most of the things are broken and terrible quality. Haven't bought there for a few years now and it's so so much better just buying in store which is sometimes cheaper and much better quality. I still have a few pieces from shein which I do wear occasionally, but damn.
honestly, I got a couple of hoodies from them 3 years ago, and I have worn them nearly every day, they don't look perfect anymore but they are still pretty good. But I still regret buying from a corporation so environmentally damaging.
This is why I feel like congress should discuss banning shein rather than tiktok 💀
Well my timing was perfect today!
Never seen another Shawna spelled the same lets gooo!
Not a SHEIN ad before the video 😅
thoughts on thredup?
New sub,....binge watching👏👏👏💯👍
Ill never buy from any of these places, it makes me so sad as a small business who tries so hard to not cause damage. I buy from small businesses because i know where they stand and also stops me over buying and stops me buying what i don't need. But even then i look into each business before hand 😅.
I think it's down right idiotic to give more breaks to companies with tons of resources and money to make change when we are so harsh on individuals who have less on an ability to make those better changes. If your gonna talk shit to your neighbor Susan for buying paper plates you better carry that backbone to absolutely scream at companies who put profit over all else. unless a lot of people decide to care about the environment and our species as a whole real fast i fear we may be watching the onset of the end. Genuinely no exaggeration.
I never bought from shein or temu and I hope I never will.
this makes me so anxious
how much more can the planet take 😭
Excelente Video 👍 Awesome content . 🍀
I’m wondering if I’m cynical or just aware of how people like this operate because my first thought was “did they have the same emissions goal last year, but based on 2022 numbers?”
So is Shein responsible for carbon emissions for deliveries or is it the couriers/delivery companies?
We really out here trying to save the planet and they’re just… 💀
The issue with provoking environmental action from companies like this is that finger-wagging just isn't enough. One story and a PR comment later talking about a roadmap and everything is okay. Keeping a conversation going isn't enough either IMO.
Some people may have forgotten by now, but Bud Light fans sunk that company with spite and prejudice. It wasn't just a thing of bullying the company's PR department on twitter. Anyone that you saw drinking Bud Light or saying things like "oh it's not that big of a deal" got ostracized and shamed. Doesn't matter if they are your brother or co-worker. "If you bring any of that trash around me or mine we're gonna have a problem" The energy was insane. But it worked.
Now flip that for Shein. Ignoring the fact that activists are toothless most of the time, could anyone really buckle down and treat their friends and acquaintances with that kind of energy? Not strangers, they don't care what you think, but the people around you? If your best friend was a Shein customer what is the farthest you'd go? A calm conversation that ends with a "agree to disagree" I'd assume.
I'm not saying become an extremist. But when YOU are the target demographic for a store or brand, the only dollar they want is yours. Your greatest super power under capitalism is to vote with your wallet and you struggle to use that power. Or worse, you struggle to influence those close to you to use that power.
From where I'm sitting, as a guy who somehow got this video in my recommendations despite not caring about fashion or shopping in general, the answer is brutally simple. Stop buying Shein. Stop watching hauls. Stop commenting or subbing to channels that engage with Shein. Stop thinking about what clothes you may or may not find on Shein. And most importantly, get your family and friends on the same train. DOES work. You don't NEED to be helpless or wait for regulations. You just need the willpower to actually commit.
I'm pessimistic on if anyone actually will tho. Hope it works out for y'all. GL.
Unfortunately I think as the cost of living/goods rises, and peoples consumption of fashion stays the same shein will only become more popular as it stays one of the more affordable options 🙄
Getting the fucking SHEIN adds before and during this video is rage inducing smh
I just realised who she looks like after watching 50+ videos on her channel
She looks like AMY from BBT
I don’t understand- EVERYONE dogs on Shein SO HARD- so WHO is still buying this shit?! Apparently people are saying one thing and doing another.
Quit buying this garbage already! It’s sad!
(I’d like to say for the record- I have never purchased from them and I never will.)
I want to know where I should shop besides the thrift stores when I need replacement clothes I don't see videos about that
Because they created this consumerism
Or why do they need to spend money on all the ads and influenzer
Also never bought from them too
@@me4011 just stick to the thrift, it's genuinely the best option. Make a list of criteria for material, stitch quality, and so forth. Start early in the day and flip through every single hanger, don’t just scan for something to catch your eye because all the best stuff is hiding. Sometimes, you'll leave empty-handed. Most times, you'll leave with 2-5 items. After about a year, you'll have a solid wardrobe with items that are durable and can last your entire life if you take care of it, and then you'll stop needing to replace things. You can get to a point where you only get new clothes when your weight changes a lot or you decide to pass the garment on to someone else and get a better one for yourself. Most of my clothing is designer or high-end vintage and still looks new regardless of how many times I wear it, but I don't think I own anything that costs more than $15
Proud to say I have never bought anything from SHEIN 💪
2050???
I have been shein free for 2 years now 🎉
Wish walked so temu and shein could run
Change my mind
I never bought anything from temu, Aliexpress, Shein or anything from china
Anything from china? I have some bad news for ya.
It’s great not to buy for any of them and that’s great, but everything in this country in every store is all made in China. I saw a women attempt to not buy anything from China for a year and she was diehard and couldn’t do it.
I like your message messaging on overconsumption, but you lost me with the climate change freak out.
I buy from shein once or twice a year… I don’t feel bad about it.
shein is full of chemicals.
I do just want to add a point to dampen the fear from a different perspective. When I was little, we were told that if we didn’t save electricity, we would go to turn the light switch on later, and there would be no electricity. I was so, so scared - I remember being in first grade and being genuinely scared to turn lights on. I’m just giving some perspective on fear.
they are garbage quality
random, but the shirt you’re wearing is so cute!
Your favorite shirt!
yes!!!!! she's back
Do you really think shein gives a shit? It's intentional.
You know what amuses me most about such posts is that people fail to see the issue cooking under their nose . Take war for example the amount of carbon emission and pollution created is always ignored but we like to target asian based markets for over consumption . Perhaps it is time we reflect on all the arms deals that are being signed all around the world
I think the difference is that we can make this known and possibly change Sheins practices as consumers. I can’t stop war, but I can make sure I don’t buy fast fashion and encourage others similarly. Also, you can be against war AND Shein. It’s not an either/or thing
I agree! I think fashion pollution gets a lot of attention on social media because it is low hanging fruit for a lot of people who are already fashion consumers and maybe trying to reduce their consumption. There's a lot more learning and hard truths wrapped up in warfare and geopolitical issues than I think the average person wants to deal with. It sucks. And I don't agree with the commenter who said you can change the fashion industry but not warfare--I disagree, and I think that mindset is the same kind of apathy Shawna was talking about in her video. You can vote, you can protest, you can write letters to your congressman. At the end of the day, we are up against big machines and big systems that are hard to change, but if you say there is nothing you can do about it, whether it is Shein or genocide in Gaza, you are playing into apathy, nihilism, and despair. If you can educate yourself about fashion, what is stopping you from reading the news or a Wikipedia article about a conflict or a country's history?
two things can be true at once
Maybe it also has something to do with the average fashion consumer being female whereas war is a very male enterprise so it gets treated as a fact of life… maybe this is a bit of a stretch lol
@@milesfurther4395 I think you’re right! I’ve noticed that even men who are influencers don’t get anywhere near as much criticism about overconsumption. And you see similar patterns with gendered interests, like fashion (which is currently stereotypically feminine) has a lot of conversations about sustainability but I almost never hear it in relation to gaming and tech (currently stereotypically masculine) - even though it’s a massive concern. The only yt channel I’ve ever seen it talked about on is run by a woman, and even then the discussion isn’t as in depth
There’s also some research about gender and attitudes towards environmentalism that you might find interesting. Ecofeminism might be another interesting topic too!
💝💐💐💐💐💝
These videos don't sit well with me as someone who rides a damn bike and walks every single day to get by, meanwhile people who live in other countries drive their cars to get their coffee and are complaining about fast fashion. Let's normalize making more videos about the impact on fuel for heating and transportation, let's talk more and pressure the industry to find alternative ways to minimize the biggest pollution that's damaging our planet. The US is the largest oil consumer. We shame everything if it's China doing it or other countries, meanwhile wtf you guys in the US doing? Some people benefit SO MUCH from affordable clothing and don't overconsume. But it's "trendy" to bash fast fashion, especially shein. Some people can't afford to clothe themselves!
sad thing is its about the only thing that decent and cheap for my style... I would spend on vampire freaks for all my outfits if i could. sadly I have to keep using shien
You don't have to, you just want to and don't care enough to change. You could easily thrift and/or buy fewer items that are better quality. Shein isn't even that good of a deal. There are plenty of other companies out there that make clothes at the same price point but with better materials.
@@Hippodameia i bearly have enough for food, i do fucking care there just isnt that many affordable clothing sites.. dont talk shit you dont know im a college student have student loans im paying for rent utlitys, insurance and medical stuff... so tell me what other cheap website i can use for my clothes? You have no idea what your talking about for my style i have 3 options and i need clothes i dont over buy i get what i need only.. so no there rlly isnt. Tell me what are other websites, are areas i can buy decent emo/goth clothes without spending 100 dollars for a single dress. Name 1 and ill start using it instead gladly. Not everyone has the luxuary to be able to think about these things many of us have no choice. You are privileged af to be able to care, I wish i had other options If i go to amazon they are charging as much or more than even vampire freaks or dolls kill
@@Hippodameia name 1- or 2 websites i can use that's affordable that isnt shein. You are privileged to be able to think like that. I am in school having to pay to the college every month, I bearly am able to spend 200 dollars a month on food. + Utlitys add up + doctors and medication. I don't have the luxury of choice to name 1 other site i c an use for gothic/emo style clothes. I cant get out of the house due to physical issues with spending another 100 dollars so rlly you going to say that
@@HippodameiaI don’t defend fast fashion but thrifting is very difficult to do now since the stupid resellers take all the good clothes and actually thrift stores are FILLED with SHEIN clothes nowadays. Coming from a girlie in her mid 20’s who used to have to thrift from being broke as a kid and is still broke, but I have to save up to buy clothes now since thrift stores suck now.
5:43 🙌🙌🙌
thank you for your work!