Shein, the Asian online retail giant, is currently facing scrutiny from Parisian prosecutors following claims from France’s consumer watchdog regarding the presence of childlike sex dolls on its platform. This investigation coincides with the company’s much-anticipated opening of its first physical store on the sixth floor of the BHV department store in Paris.
Controversy at BHV
The decision by BHV to host Shein has sparked significant backlash among rival clothing brands, leading some to announce their departure from the esteemed establishment in protest. Notably, fashion designer Agnès B declared she would close her concession at BHV when her contract concludes in January, expressing her strong opposition to fast fashion.
“I’m completely against this fast-fashion… there are jobs under threat, it’s very bad,”
said B during a conversation with French radio. Meanwhile, Shein’s representative, Quentin Ruffat, assured that the company is fully committed to cooperating with authorities, pledging to share details about sellers, buyers, and the controversial products.
Responses from competitors
In light of the allegations, AliExpress has stated that it takes these matters very seriously. On the other hand, Temu has distanced itself from the situation, clarifying it does not permit the sale of such items and is collaborating with French authorities to enhance protections for minors. Wish has yet to respond officially to inquiries regarding the issue.
Despite its reputation for offering affordable and fashionable apparel, Shein has come under fire for its environmental practices and labor conditions. As the store’s opening approached, protests erupted outside BHV. Frédéric Merlin, who manages BHV, acknowledged the pressure to reconsider the partnership with Shein but ultimately decided to proceed, citing the company’s assurances about the ethical sourcing of its products.
“The clothes we’re going to sell do not exploit workers or children,”
Merlin asserted in a statement to French radio.
Founded in China, Shein is also planning to open stores in seven additional cities within Galeries Lafayette locations operated by SGM. However, Galeries Lafayette has opted to sever ties with Shein, withdrawing its name from stores in cities including Angers, Dijon, and Grenoble.
The Paris prosecutor’s office has confirmed that Shein, along with the three other e-commerce platforms, is under investigation for potentially exposing minors to violent, pornographic, or otherwise degrading material. Additionally, both Shein and AliExpress are being scrutinized for distributing content of a pornographic nature involving children.
In response to the allegations, AliExpress indicated that the concerning listings were promptly removed upon their discovery, reaffirming their commitment to penalizing sellers who violate their guidelines. On Monday, Shein announced a global ban on the sale of all sex dolls and vowed to permanently suspend accounts associated with the illegal sale of these items, while implementing more stringent controls on its platform.
The Directorate General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control, the French consumer watchdog, has highlighted that the descriptions and categorization of the sex dolls leave “little doubt as to the child pornography nature” of the products, intensifying the scrutiny on Shein and its business practices.