SHEIN: Does Price Outweigh the Quality?

SHEIN is a fast fashion company that claims to give the same amazing quality that big-name brands deliver for a fraction of the cost. Read along to find out whether or not this company is worth the time and money.

A few product photos from SHEIN's website are featured above.

What is SHEIN?

The first company that I've chosen to tackle is a beast with many heads; whether you know it as Zaful, Romwe, or Shein, they're all one in the same, belonging to the same parent company.

Now, what is Shein? Shein is an online women's clothing site that sells clothes, shoes, and accessories at extremely low prices. And by low, I mean that one could assemble an entire new wardrobe in $100 or less on this site. However, because of these insane prices, it leads many to wonder: is Shein legit?

Is SHEIN Legit?

My short answer to this is yes, as long as you shop the site in a certain way. While some items will be a disaster when it comes to sizing and picture accuracy, you can find certain pieces that you will be using for years to come. In order to ensure that your experience always ends up positive, I will be sharing some of my tips for shopping on the Shein site.

For now, I want to share some details about Shein itself, some of my own experiences, and what you can expect when shopping.

SHEIN and shipping:

Shein has warehouses in the USA, Europe, and China and shipments may come from any one of these locations.

I'm going to be honest with you, Shein shipping is one of the worst things about the company itself. Shipping on a single order can take several weeks to a month. Currently, I have items in my cart with standard shipping and the estimated arrival date is over 3 weeks away. If I upgrade to express shipping ($12.90), it says it will be delivered in 3 days or sooner. However, the company offers no guarantee, so it's not worth it in my opinion.

On the other hand, I have ordered items from Shein and they've come in less than a week. It's always a toss up. So, if you're looking to wear something for a special occasion, I highly recommend purchasing weeks in advance, or just look to another company.

Is SHEIN clothing good quality?

I've personally had both good and bad experiences in terms of quality when shopping at Shein, but honestly, I think it's just a gamble.

Let me be clear- you are not going to get top of the line fabrics here. I certainly wouldn't rely on Shein for business attire or a senior prom dress, but if we're talking about everyday casual wear, basics, etc., the quality is fine.

Tank tops from SHEIN that I have personally purchased.

For example, the tank tops pictured above retail for $5.00 each, and thinking it was a steal, I purchased them over the summer. I didn't expect much from them, as I've learned to do with my Shein orders through past experience, but I was delightfully surprised by the quality! Now, I've found a staple piece that I can reuse for years to come.

Is SHEIN ethical?

This question is truly a kicker. While consumers like us obliviously enjoy Shein's low prices and clothing, there is a dark reason behind the affordability.

When you shop at places like SHEIN, you know very little about how they run the factories at which they produce their products. More than likely, they keep their prices low by paying their workers less than satisfactory wages that most of us would never personally take in the United States. The company has also been accused of employing children, even though their president claims that they abide by all child labor laws. However, these "child labor laws" belong to the country of Bangladesh, where the working age is just 14 years.

So yeah, technically SHEIN's workers are legal, but not entirely ethical.

One commonly suggested method of collective action is boycotting the brand. But if people are unwilling to sacrifice the cheapness of fast fashion, a boycott will never garner the necessary support to create change. Not only this, but if a successful boycott were to take place, it would cut SHEIN off from a sizable amount of profit, leading to layoffs and leaving their factory workers with no source of income.

So in conclusion, I wouldn't worry too much about buying from the brand. One or two purchases are not going to morally wound you as much as you'd think.

Tips for Shopping SHEIN Clothing Online:

Before I leave, I promised some tips to help you have a positive shopping experience.

1. Read Reviews - Reading reviews is key. Definitely look for reviews with images as you'll get the most information from them. On the other hand, be wary of super generic interviews as well (like, "loved it!") as paid reviews are a thing these days.

2. Check Size Charts - SHEIN clothing sizing is not the same as US sizing, so be sure to check measurements for each item as they vary between pieces.

3. Use a Promo Code - SHEIN is almost always running some sort of promo. Usually, you'll see them as a banner right when you open the website. Especially if it's your first time buying, it's good to save money if you don't know what to expect.

4. Check the Material Info - This tip is often overlooked, but there are a lot of benefits to checking what the material is made of. For example, stay away from clothing that is 100% polyester or nylon, as you know it's not going to be the best quality. However, materials like cotton and acrylic are pretty safe.

Final Review:

Overall, I would give this company a 6/10. While their methods of selling and production may not be the most ethical, the pricing and the wide selection of products are quite hard to turn away from for most people. You can score some really great deals, but don't be surprised if you also find a few duds along the way. Just keep these tips in mind to ensure a positive shopping experience.

If you have any other tips for shopping at SHEIN, I'd love to hear them below. Thanks for reading!