Latest news with #Shein
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Exposé sheds light on shocking truth behind popular fashion brand's operations: 'We have no choice'
Workers making ultracheap Shein clothing in Guangzhou, China, face grueling 14-hour shifts with just one day off per month, despite earning fair wages compared to local standards, reported NZZ. In an area nicknamed "Shein Village" on the outskirts of Guangzhou, over a thousand factories operate almost exclusively for the popular online retailer. Workers earn about 8,000 yuan ($1,100) monthly — three times the local minimum wage — but must work more than twice the legally permitted hours to meet production quotas. "We have no choice," said Liu, a 42-year-old worker who irons clothing and stands for more than 10 hours daily. "What should my family eat and drink?" Chinese authorities are aware of these labor violations but ignore them to preserve jobs in an economy facing rising unemployment. Han Dongfang, who heads the Hong Kong-based China Labor Bulletin, fights for workers' rights but faces resistance from officials who prioritize economic activity over regulations. The working conditions in Shein factories reflect the fast-fashion business model's faults. Shein's "small batches, quick turnaround" strategy puts immense pressure on suppliers to deliver rapidly when designs sell well. This approach lets the company keep inventory costs low and pass savings to customers through rock-bottom prices. When you buy a $7 top or $12 jeans from Shein, that affordability comes at a human cost. While workers receive decent pay by local standards, they sacrifice their health and family time to keep up with production demands. This model also creates massive textile waste. Fast-fashion companies design clothing to deteriorate quickly, sending garments to landfills after just a few wears. The industry's focus on constantly changing styles and low-quality materials means millions of tons of textiles are wasted each year. The environmental impact is more than waste. Textile production requires significant water usage and often involves harmful chemicals that pollute local water sources when factories don't properly treat wastewater. You can make choices that support workers and the planet. Consider buying fewer but higher-quality garments that last longer. This approach might cost more upfront but saves money over time as pieces don't need frequent replacement. Which of these factors would most effectively motivate you to recycle old clothes and electronics? Giving me money back Letting me trade for new stuff Making it as easy as possible Keeping my stuff out of landfills Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Thrifting offers another great solution with substantial financial benefits. You can find unique items at a small fraction of retail prices while giving clothing another life and keeping it out of pollution-spewing landfills. Some companies are now embracing more sustainable practices. Brands that openly share information about their supply chains and worker conditions give you the power to make informed choices about where your money goes. Supporting policies that require fashion companies to implement fair labor practices and environmental standards can drive industry-wide change. Your purchasing decisions send a powerful message about the kind of fashion industry you want to support. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
The Irish Sun
8 hours ago
- Business
- The Irish Sun
Amazon is selling an £9 privacy screen that's perfect for keeping your garden away from prying eyes this summer
AMAZON is selling a cheap privacy screen that will elevate your garden and keep the prying eyes away. With the temperatures rising and summer on our doorstep, more people will be spending time in their gardens. Advertisement 2 The privacy screen doubles as a picture backdrop and sells only for £9 Credit: Amazon 2 The screen can be easily installed on an existing fence Credit: Amazon But your sunbathing sessions and relaxation could be disturbed by neighbours peeking through the fence. Putting up a large fence around your garden may seem like the obvious solution but this can be expensive - and can sometimes lead to . For a hassle-free answer to your problem, you could install a privacy screen that is both affordable and pleasant to the eye. Amazon is selling Advertisement read more on fabulous The 200 x 40cm expanding flower panels make a perfect backdrop for pictures or celebrations if you're planning to throw BBQ parties this year. They also protect your privacy from any prying eyes, blocking 90 per cent of UV rays, and blend perfectly with the greenery of the garden. The product is said to be suitable for outdoors as it can withstand wind, rain and heat thanks to the rust-free plastic and wood blend . The privacy screen can be easily attached to an existing fence, patio or wall without any tools. Advertisement Most read in Fabulous You could also choose between realistic purple orchids or yellow sunflowers to complement your garden's look. B&Q's Aldi is selling a cheap $2.19 item in the 'finds aisle' that will transform your garden into a colorful summer paradise The stylish screen comes in a realistic leaf design, perfect for blending in to your greenery. However, the privacy screen is only available online, so you will have to order it via the B&Q website instead of heading to your local store if you are keen to snap up the bargain. Advertisement Meanwhile, Shein's can keep snoopers out for just £10. And the purse-friendly buy isn't the only privacy screen you can buy on Shein at the moment. The e-commerce site's What are your rights over a fence row? IT'S very important to know your rights if you are embroiled in a fence row with a neighbour. How do I know which side I own? A The only way to know for certain who owns what side and to avoid any neighbour disputes, is to refer to the title plan or Land Registry. In this, the T mark is used to indicate who the boundary belongs to and therefore who is responsible for its upkeep, say pros at Larger developments tend to have some indication provided by the builder, but there are no hard and fast rules People often think they are responsible for the left (or right) hand boundary wherever they live, but there isn't any legal basis for this. You can check with HM Land Registry to see which boundary feature you are responsible for. Often households can't get hold of the paperwork but experts say they shouldn't panic. Homeowners can guess who owns the fence by checking where the Pros say: "The fence is typically facing away from their property so that their neighbour gets the 'good' side. 'This is the most secure way of facing fencing so there are no rails for anyone to use to climb into your garden. 'This is then repeated with the neighbour on the other side to ensure that each home has both a 'good' and 'bad' fence side.' Walls and fences are often built on the land of the boundary's owner with the edge of the wall marking the limit. While professionals agree a glimpse at the fence can give you a hint, it's not foolproof - so you can't be certain. Fines and punishment It is recommended to always check legal documents before making changes to avoid There is no law that the neighbour has to get the good side of the fence, so it's completely up to whoever owns the fence. Fencing pros have suggested: 'It may be worth selecting a double-sided panel with no 'bad' side as both sides look the same and rails are concealed within the fence panel.' If one boundary backs onto a road or footpath you can install the panels with the rails on the inside But if it's installed on the outside, it can provide an 'easy ladder for burglars to enter your garden'. The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and the Property Litigation Association have created a mediation service to help neighbours resolve disputes over their property boundaries without resorting to court action. RICS also provides a list of surveyors who could assist in boundary disputes. If a dispute continues, it is ultimately a court that makes decisions, but they do not like such disputes being put before them. Changing a boundary If you want to change an existing boundary, such as replacing an old fence with a new one, we always recommend discussing with your neighbour first and making sure it is all agreed. The registered titles can help you to reach an agreement, but only if this information has been added. In terms of decorations on a fence legal advisers recommended asking around over who actually first installed it. But they also urged caution before getting to work on amending the fence without getting more certainty yourself - since there is a danger of actually being prosecuted for criminal damage. How high can a garden fence be? The height of the fence is measured from your ground level, this can have an impact when, due to slopes in the ground, your garden may be at a higher level than your neighbours'. A garden fence can be as high as 100m but you need to get planning permission if it's over than 2m. However, there are some complications to this. If you are thinking about front You would need to get planning permission for putting a trellis on a fence of 2m. But, if any plant that you grow on that trellis exceeds 2m, you do not need to obtain a permit for the
Sky News AU
a day ago
- Business
- Sky News AU
Woodside CEO cops vicious spray for exposing the ‘Temu' Gen Zers who export their carbon guilt abroad while preaching about the climate crisis
Woodside CEO Meg O'Neill sure raised some hackles this week when she took aim at the double standards of climate crusaders. In her sights were those who bash fossil fuels while rushing to charge their smartphones so they can splurge on cheap goods from online Chinese retailers. But the boss of Australia's biggest oil and gas producer wasn't sticking a Boomer-style boot into young Australians, despite the inevitable howls of protest. This business leader simply had the audacity to voice an uncomfortable truth - it is time to face the energy hypocrisy woven into the fabric of our everyday lives. Ms O'Neill was on a panel at the industry's annual conference in Brisbane on Tuesday when the moderator, Sky News Political contributor Chris Uhlmann, asked if people genuinely knew the source of their electricity. Echoing the sentiment that 'most people hit a switch and expect the lights to come on', she then referenced the false fossil fuel virtue which exists, according to reports. Ms Neill said: 'It's been a fascinating journey to watch the discussion, particularly among young people who have this very ideological, almost zealous view of, you know, 'fossil fuel bad, renewables good', that are happily plugging in their devices, ordering things from Shein and Temu, having, you know, one little thing shipped to their house without any sort of recognition of the energy and carbon impact of their actions. 'So that human impact and the consumer's role in driving energy demand and emissions absolutely is a missing space in the conversation.' Or in other words, exposing those who quietly export their carbon guilt abroad while proudly claiming to protect the planet. Woodside and by association Ms O'Neill are the enemy to green evangelists because of the company's North West Shelf Project on the Burrup Peninsula in the remote Pilbara region. It is the biggest gas plant on the mainland and the extension - now approved by newly appointed Environment Minister Murray Watt - will allow Woodside to keep operating and supplying gas to the Australian market until 2070. Opponents claim the project will emit billions of tonnes of CO2 as we keep the lights on. Consequently, the net zero brigade do not like Ms O'Neill's position on double standards one bit. Grace Vegesana from the Australian Youth Climate Coalition didn't hold back, accusing Ms O'Neill of trying to dodge responsibility for climate change by pointing the finger at everyday Australians. 'Climate change is happening right in front of our eyes yet Meg O'Neill is trying to cast the blame back onto individuals. In case you've forgotten basic climate science Meg, yes, fossil fuels = bad,' Ms Vegesana said, going after what she called yet another attempt by big oil and gas to deflect blame. Greenpeace's Joe Rafalowicz went even further, calling it 'laughable' that a fossil fuel executive would try to shift blame onto kids. His view was that Ms O'Neill should start listening to students in flooded mid north New South Wales who just saw their schools shut down 'thanks to another climate-driven disaster'. But this is not the essence of her view. The issue Ms O'Neill is highlighting, I believe, is that any and every call for moderation or pragmatic transition in energy is framed as heresy. We are now saddled with energy insecurity and skyrocketing costs, not in the least because of the news this week that from July 1 households in NSW, SA, and SE QLD face up to a $228 spike in their electricity bills. This might be something to think about at the next climate rally when these critics are live-streaming their outrage on devices charged with fossil fuel-powered electricity. But I don't blame Gen Z - they are encouraged to criticise the very industry that keeps this country running. Meanwhile, the Coalition has rediscovered its spine by stepping back from its net zero by 2050 goal following the second honeymoon of the Liberal and National parties. Opposition Leader Sussan Ley said Australia needs to do its part on climate change but not 'at any cost.' Significantly, the former shadow finance minister Jane Hume who pushed to keep the net zero target didn't make it into the new shadow cabinet. But if Gen Zs and the like desire a carbon-free future, are they honestly prepared to unplug their lives and work with major industry or is the goal simple - to yell at the companies that keep them connected? The transition needs to be handled efficiently and until then so-called 'climate justice' means blackouts to the rest of us. Louise Roberts is a journalist and editor who has worked as a TV and radio commentator in Australia, the UK and the US. Louise is a winner of the Peter Ruehl Award for Outstanding Columnist in the NRMA Kennedy Awards for Excellence in Journalism and has been shortlisted in other awards for her opinion work.
Reuters
a day ago
- Business
- Reuters
Shein's IPO setback is the least of its problems
LONDON, May 28 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Finding a listing venue for a vast retailer with double-digit percentage revenue growth might sound easy in theory. But fast-fashion group Shein is finding otherwise. On Wednesday, Reuters reported that the company may switch to a Hong Kong float rather than London, after failing to secure a green light so far for the UK plan from the China Securities Regulatory Commission. A bigger question is whether growing hostility to the business in the United States and Europe requires a tough geographic shift. Hong Kong was not Donald Tang's first choice for an IPO venue. The executive chairman of Shein had initially sought to list the business in New York in 2022 but faced a backlash from lawmakers like Marco Rubio, who is now secretary of state and who has criticised, opens new tab the group's labour practices. Shein has said it has a zero-tolerance policy over forced labour and child labour in its supply chain. Now, the London plan seems doomed after an apparent lack of support among Chinese regulators, according to Reuters. Shein declined to comment. Hong Kong's IPO market may be warming up from a low level, but in many ways that's beside the point for investors. The bigger concern is that Europe and the U.S., two of its biggest markets, are introducing restrictions that will erode the company's competitiveness, which has historically rested on selling clothes like dresses for less than $20 to bargain-hunting Westerners. Take Washington, which has moved to end the historic practice of granting duty-free access to sub-$800 items. Last week, Europe followed suit and announced a plan to apply a 2-euro flat fee on low-value e-commerce packages entering the bloc. These two changes will put pressure on Shein's already dwindling financials, and therefore its valuation. In February, opens new tab, the Financial Times reported that Shein's net profit in 2024 declined by almost 40% year-on-year to $1 billion despite a 19% rise in revenue. The fall in earnings was the result of increased competition from rival Temu, owned by China's PDD (PDD.O), opens new tab, according to the report, which also stated that some stakeholders had pressured the group to cut its sought-after IPO valuation to around $30 billion compared with a peak of $100 billion. Amid this pressure, Tang may need to embark on a tricky pivot. He could try to find other ways to keep Western customers, for example by setting up shop locally, but that would erode his cost advantage. Another option would be to shift away from the West and focus on countries like Saudi Arabia, where online retailers have made rapid inroads. Shein could also focus more on China or other large Asian markets. The issue, however, is that local prices are generally lower than in the United States and Europe, raising the question of whether the company would have an edge. In any case, the question of where Shein floats is probably not the main problem for investors. Follow @aimeedonnellan, opens new tab on X
Fashion United
a day ago
- Business
- Fashion United
Shein reportedly eyeing Hong Kong listing as London IPO plans halt
Shein is seemingly changing course. The Chinese fast fashion giant is believed to now be looking to Hong Kong for its initial public offering (IPO) after plans to list in London grinded to a halt. According to sources for Reuters, Shein has turned to Hong Kong after it failed to get Chinese regulators to approve of its London Stock Exchange plans. While one source said the e-tailer is planning to file a draft prospectus with the Hong Kong stock exchange in the coming weeks, two other sources suggested Shein is hoping to go public in the region within the year. Shein had been pursuing a listing in the UK since early 2024 after previously looking to New York for its IPO. In the US, it already faced opposition from politicians who had argued to block the filing, calling for better disclosure of Shein's Chinese operations. The company then turned to London as an alternative route, yet was also confronted by similar challenges from local market authorities, NGOs and fashion industry leaders. By April 2025, however, it was reported that the retailer had received approval from the UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) for the London IPO, and thus notified the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC). While Shein had anticipated backing from the CSRC, a source for Reuters said the company experienced an unforeseen delay and limited communication from the organisation. Further factors, like allegations that Shein's products utilised cotton from China's Xinjiang region, had also complicated the London IPO, Reuters noted. FashionUnited has contacted Shein with a request to comment.
