Toxic Clothing Found at SHEIN: Here's What You're Exposed To, According to Experts
Independent experts have identified flaws in some garments sold by the SHEIN chain, but that's not all.
A German consumer watchdog, ÖKO-TEST, recently evaluated the quality of clothing sold by the Chinese retailer SHEIN and found that two-thirds of the items tested failed to meet basic health and quality standards.
The assessment included 21 different products, ranging from clothing to shoes for women, men, and children. Alarming findings revealed that some garments contained polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), chemicals known to be carcinogenic. Beyond the PAHs, the independent lab working with ÖKO-TEST also identified other potentially harmful substances in a pair of sandals, including lead, anthracene, indeno(1,2,3-cd)pyrene, naphthalene, and dimethylformamide.
The testing also uncovered antimony in some baby clothes, a substance that poses significant health risks. When found in children's products, it's especially concerning since many infants tend to put clothing in their mouths.
Additionally, several products failed the durability test and were deemed substandard. Fourteen items did not pass inspection. For example, the soles of the sandals broke after just 5,700 simulated steps for the men's version and 14,000 steps for the women's version. According to the ÖKO-TEST report, "If you were to complete the recommended 10,000 daily steps for a healthy lifestyle, these products would wear out in just over half a day."
In response, SHEIN stated, "We take these results seriously and, as a precaution, have removed from sale the products that ÖKO-TEST identified as not meeting legal requirements. We are also conducting further investigations." However, the effectiveness of these measures remains to be seen.
Besides the potential health risks from harmful chemicals found in SHEIN clothing, there are arguably many other reasons to avoid their products. The poor product quality leads to excess waste, and the brand contributes to environmental damage through fast fashion. There are also ethical concerns about labor conditions in SHEIN's supply chain. Finally, the unsustainable nature of their business model further highlights the importance of choosing more responsible alternatives.