Page 32 - ADU Voice Volume 5 Issue 1

32 Voice | Fall 2025

CHEAP AT A PRICE: A SHEIN STORE INVESTIGATION

By Fatma Durrani

s I whispered to my mother about how .Except, they weren’t expensive—
Athe ten dirham-priced Guess handbag they were incredibly cheap, ranging
sitting on the shelf in front of us was fake, from 15 to 50 Dirhams. Just a
the Shein outlet employee that had been single authentic KIKO Milano
following us around the store sternly 3D Hydra Lip-gloss costs
spoke, “No, ma’am, it is genuine.”
59.00 AED. Yet, their prices
weren’t the only cheap
In my efforts to investigate the thing about them; in terms of
transition of the online fast- appearance, the majority of these
fashion brand Shein into the real products were unsealed, open, or
world, I paid a visit to their outlet store had broken packaging—covered
located in Abu Dhabi. This store is just in their own product and dusty
one of many worldwide. Due to its online
success, the notorious brand has launched fingerprints. Not to mention,
certain products, such as the
stores around the globe; these launches have aforementioned lip glosses,
caused major controversies. In fact, as reported were made from a substance
by Elle, “None of Shein’s supply chain is similar to paint rather than
certified by labour standards…”, which was an actual makeup gloss.
unexpected, to say the least. This is because,
although it is known that online shopping Most strangely, a female
always involves the risk of bad quality employee followed us
fabrics, wrong sizes, or even strange smells, around the makeup
the risk has always been taken by buyers. section, only standing
However, many believed that the transition a couple inches away
from Shein’s online store to a physical one anytime we moved.
might reduce these risks; instead, it only made This posed a challenge
them all too apparent while garnering even for me—though I had
more questions about the brand’s true nature.
asked for permission
to record and take
As you walk into the Shein outlet store, you pictures, she still
are greeted by a myriad of employees, some listened very
of whom wear a red-polo shirt with “SHEIN” closely from an
written on the back and their names on the uncomfortable
front; the other workers wear regular clothes proximity, I
which makes differentiating them from gathered, to
customers harder. You have entered the first ensure that
floor of the outlet store, where most of the there was no
handbags, makeup, skincare, and hygiene spreading of
products are located, along with a section for “misinformation”.
miscellaneous items. My mother’s eyes landed
first on the racks filled with stacks of well-
known luxury makeup brands Dolce&Gabbana,
KIKO Milano, La Mer and many more.
“THE BRAND OOZES ONE THING IN ITS MOTIVATIONS: DISINGENUITY”