Shein

The day when we no longer buy anything from China can’t come soon enough. They are a disgrace. Their human rights record is appalling. These awful companies are using forced labour and undercutting Western manufacturing industries to ensure they go out of business. I try my best to not buy Chinese made products.

True. I never cease to be amazed by the quantity of clothes some on GN buy - I doubt they glance at the label to see where things are made. Always thrilled to have found a ‘bargain’. I buy very little indeed, but I buy carefully.

Dingleberry

I have bought some fantastic things from Shein and they are identical to Wallis, Roman Originals and Dorothy Perkins. If you look at their labels they are either made in China or Thailand the same as Marks and Spencers. Nothing is made in good old Great Britain anymore.

It is, and if not in the UK, it’s made in the EU - you just have to search for it and be prepared to pay more.

Agreed.
I shall be watching for it to happen.
Not much sign yet.

Being unable to afford something is not a good enough reason to buy an item produced cheaply on the back of someone else's misery and fear. Buy less, buy better, buy second hand.

Well said HousePlantQueen!

I am on so low an income that I don't pay income tax, so I couldn't afford more ethical brands of which there are several. As keepingquiet has said, it isn't always possible to avoid everything that's unethical. But we CAN buy second hand, buy less, buy Fairtrade, buy local etc. which, while not perfect, goes a long way.

In what areas does Joules perform poorly?

Joules’ low ethical rating is primarily a result of its ownership by Next Plc, which is implicated in numerous unethical practices. For instance, Joules receives a bottom rating for Human Rights, as Next has been involved in several workers’ rights issues across its supply chain. Due to a high volume of human rights criticisms, Joules also receives a bottom rating for Human Rights+.

Additionally, Joules receives a bottom rating in the Organic category, as it does not have any organic-certified clothing products.

In what areas does Joules perform well?

As Next has a comprehensive CSR Report with targets to improve its record in areas such as raw materials, cotton and carbon emissions, Joules receives a top rating in the Environmental Report criterion. Having a report with clear targets shows the company is committed to improving its environmental record.

Joules also receives a top rating in the Better Cotton Initiative and Ethical Trading Schemes categories, as Next is a member of both the Better Cotton Initiative and the Ethical Trading Initiative.

I have bought some fantastic things from Shein and they are identical to Wallis, Roman Originals and Dorothy Perkins. If you look at their labels they are either made in China or Thailand the same as Marks and Spencers. Nothing is made in good old Great Britain anymore.

One of the worst things about companies like Shein is that they steal designs from other people - they are always being sued in the USA and, if I remember correctly, at least once by a small Italian designer. They take the pictures from the designer sites and make their own designs up from there.

There's quite a funny YouTube video by Bernadette Banner about how she saw a photo of herself wearing a medieval costume she had designed, with the head lopped off, being used to advertise a dress made by one of those ubiquitous Chinese fashion sites. So she bought the dress and did a comparison with the dress in the photo.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=J80J4oaGVnY&t=834s

Yes.
It's in the "could do better" category, but I suppose that can very according to which data these eco friendly charts use.

MissAdventure

Joules, also fares badly..

Oh, does it? That bothers me as I am a fan.

Joules, also fares badly..

How about wearing Chanel perfume?
Plenty wear it, it seems.

shein is a chinese company based in Singapore. there clothes are great for young people. i use temu and have bought some lovely tops from them, temu is also a chinese company but there headquarters are in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.

petra

I hope non of the vegetarians or vegans were any Nike products.

goodonyou.eco/how-ethical-is-nike/

Nope, this vegetarian doesn't. As a carnivore, do you?

I never engage with companies such as Shein or Temu, for various reasons

I will not knowingly buy from a manufacturer which uses forced or slave labour to make its goods

I try very hard to avoid buying anything made in China, for the above reason and because I think they are deliberately trying to undercut UK and European manufacturers and force them out of business with its implications for the economies of those countries

Anything made in China is under the control of the Chinese government, there is no 'free enterprise'

Temu have long been accused of data gathering.

Being unable to afford something is not a good enough reason to buy an item produced cheaply on the back of someone else's misery and fear. Buy less, buy better, buy second hand.

Wallis is awarded only 8 points more than Shein, in terms of ethical practice, while Chanel is also in the "could do better" list.

Obviously that should read ware

I hope non of the vegetarians or vegans were any Nike products.

goodonyou.eco/how-ethical-is-nike/

MissAdventure

You can look up ethical ratings on this site, or there are others

thegoodshoppingguide.com/subject/ethical-fashion-retailers/

That’s only if you download the app.

You are right that having more disposable income give you more choices though.

keepingquiet I don't think it's necessarily harder to be ethical online. Both involve work.
What makes you think this?

good point choghdancer- though I am getting some new glasses today? Should I ask where they were made?
I am catching a bus- should I find out where the parts came from and where my bus pass was made?
I will be going for lunch- how do I know who was exploited in the supplying of that food?
I am seeing an art exhibition- will I check where the paints and materials are from?
It is impossible to know, we have become so inter-dependent.
I also use charity shops where possible, and really try to re-use and buy ethically but on a low income it just isn't viable.

I try to avoid supporting unethical brands by buying almost everything second hand. Not just clothing but furniture, electrical items, technology (laptop and phone).

Companies base their policies on how much and what they are selling, and at what price. So every time you buy a brand new item, you are giving them data which will affect their future sourcing of goods. So if Shein, Temu etc. are selling lots of clothes made in slavery-like conditions, they will continue to source them from there as their prime motive (like most businesses) is to make a profit.

Buying second hand doesn't 'feed' this, even if the actual items were made in China, are Shein branded etc.

keepingquiet

I think my point was it isn't just fashion, but stuff we buy and need all the time. It just isn't possible to be 'fully' ethical, especially when buying on-line It is a horrible trap we've all been caught in.

It is possible, it’s just a lot of effort. You have to do your homework before you buy anything to find out where it’s coming from.

I think my point was it isn't just fashion, but stuff we buy and need all the time. It just isn't possible to be 'fully' ethical, especially when buying on-line It is a horrible trap we've all been caught in.