Earlier this year, Shein announced it’s expanding its resale platform, SHEIN Exchange, into Europe and the UK, starting with France, and following up with UK and Germany.
SHEIN Exchange is designed to facilitate resales of previously owned Shein products. It’s integrated directly into the existing Shein app, so customers can easily list items for sale by clicking a “sell” button next to their past purchases.
The move to expand SHEIN Exchange into Europe comes after the platform’s successful launch in the US in October 2022. Since then, the resale platform has gained significant traction, with over 4.2mn new users and more than 115,000 pre-owned items listed by over 95,000 sellers by 2023.
Caitrin Watson, Shein’s director of sustainability, said in a press release that with the platform Shein aims to “provide more of our global customer community with ways to easily participate in the circular economy and promote the environmental benefits of shopping second hand.”
It referenced surveys carried out September 2023 found that many of its customers are eager to engage in circular fashion practices, with clothing donation and peer-to-peer resale topping the list of ways they contribute. Nearly half of the respondents from the UK, France, Germany, and Brazil cited their commitment to sustainability as their main motivation for buying second-hand clothing online.
Shein is just one of several fast fashion firms to launch resale platforms recently, as consumer interest in sustainability grows.
However, critics say these are a form of greenwashing, as brands that are gobbling up resources to produce millions of new garments try to prevent themselves as sustainable.
An article by Remake, Fast Fashion’s Tapping of the Secondhand Market Is Its Latest Greenwashing Tactic, raises important questions about the true intent behind these initiatives. Are these companies genuinely embracing circularity, or is this just another marketing ploy?
According to Becca Coughlan, Remake’s Transparency Manager, genuine circularity involves “scaling virgin production (and therefore consumption) way back and replacing it with services and behaviors that extend the use-phase of garments as much as possible.” Unfortunately, many fast fashion brands are still churning out new collections while touting their secondhand ventures.
Everything I wore on Day 46 of the 90 days of Shein challenge:
DAZY Solid Drop Shoulder Tee, white
Women’s Solid Color Basic Daily Leggings
Beige trench coat (thrifted)
2024 New Style College Wind Black & White Outdoor Sports Shoes for Women
Allover Leaf Graphic Drawstring Backpack
DAZY Women’s Floral Print Sleeveless Round Neck Sleep Dress
3pack Lace Trim No Show Brief, grey
Fashion Slowdown 
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