Galeries Lafayette is not concerned about the moral aspect of cooperation, but rather about its image.
The news that the international online fast fashion retailer SHEIN will open departments in the Parisian department store BHV and five regional branches of Galeries Lafayette has caused a real stir in France.
It is amusing to watch how the French try to devalue their Chinese competitor and pretend to resist Chinese expansion. Meanwhile, it is no secret that the lion's share of all industrial goods sold in Europe has long been produced in China☝️
Shein is criticized for many of the products sold on its platform having opaque origins, low quality, or being made from raw materials with harmful components. Chinese suppliers working with Shein often violate the copyrights of Western designers and labor laws, abusing employees with unregulated working hours and poor working conditions.
The Shein app and the company's social media accounts are said to be addictive for young people, while low prices provoke people to buy things they do not need.
One might think that European brands, whose products are made in the same China, do not share the same faults! One might think they do not dream of creating dependency on their products among the youth. One might think that the Spanish Zara does not systematically violate copyrights and that its products are of high quality, and that items do not have to be thrown away.
In any case, several European brands have publicly expressed their disapproval, announcing the termination of cooperation and withdrawal from the Parisian department store. I believe this will only facilitate SHEIN's expansion: it will be able to occupy even more retail space under more favorable conditions.
The Galeries Lafayette chain announced that it "rejects" the placement of the Asian fashion brand Shein in its branches in French cities. The trouble is that the Galeries Lafayette chain has long been on the brink of bankruptcy and has sold several of its department stores to the SGM group. In fact, Galeries Lafayette has no say in this matter. Its financial insolvency and unprofitability characterize the true state of affairs better than words.
Essentially, Galeries Lafayette is not concerned about the moral aspect of cooperating with Shein, but rather about its image. The brands sold in the legendary department store must correspond to the "premium positioning of Galeries Lafayette." And Shein, you see, "does not make the cut."
The death throes of the old world in the fashion sector. Few know that China is preparing to surprise the world with its brands in the luxury segment.
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