What are Shein and Temu? They are global mega stores that lately have been stealing the spotlight from Amazon and eBay with their valuable resources and fashionable outfits. But the real question is, who has better quality and prices, and who could be hiding a dirty secret?
Shein
Shein has enjoyed a meteoric rise since it launched in the US around 2017. With the number of cheap, affordable items (mainly looking toward cute and fashionable items such as pens, phone cases, bottles and school bags), this online shop has been all over the UK. A TikTok influencer with over 6 million followers faced online backlash for partnering with Shein; she defended the partnership by saying that “not everyone can afford to shop sustainably.” “Sustainable fashion is a privilege,” wrote the 26-year-old in response. An investigation by the Swiss-based non-profit group Public Eye found that people employed to produce garments for Shein routinely worked more than 70 hours weekly; there were also allegations of forced labour in the region of China.
Temu
Temu was launched in the UK in 2023; though its late arrival, Temu has been on the charts with more than just clothes and aesthetic stuff; it sells things like beauty products, homewares and sports equipment. Many wonder why Temu is so cheap and if it is being made internationally, as it takes 5 to 10 business days to arrive. There are worries about the environmental impact of mass-producing low-cost clothes and the waste they create. Many think the same thing about the Shein rumours about the claims about child labour in China.
Who’s telling the truth?
After hearing both sides of the argument, we can conclude that Shein takes up to 8 to 10 business days, and standard shipping for Temu takes up to 6 to 20 business days; however, unlike Shein, it can be free. Regarding reviews, Temu has 1.6 stars out of five, while Shein has 4.2 stars, proving that customers/ buyers like the Shein service better than the Temu service.
When it comes to the accusations, as Shein has been a long-lasting app, not many people had put any thought into the child labour rumours until the allegations against Temu.
Please comment below with your thoughts on Shein and Temu.
By Zarah
Boston High School Newsroom
Shein clothing is cool and no Look alike from other designers. Temu I have not ordered from and won’t..I’ll stick with Shein!