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Shein faces backlash for taking influencers to China factory to cover up quality and toxic work culture charge
Shein exploited marginalized influencers for beneficial media coverage in order to deny the rumors.
Chinese fashion company Shein's PR efforts to respond to backlash over allegations of company using hazardous materials and abusing its factors workers has garnered further anger against the fast fashion brand.
Now people are trolling six US-based influencers who traveled to China and Singapore on Shein’s expense, as ‘social climbers’.
According to videos and statements posted by the creators, these marginalized, plus-size and non-white women, were extended an invitation to visit its factory in Guangzhou, China, and its headquarters which is situated in Singapore. They claimed that they weren't not paid for their attendance or asked to post any content about the factory on their social media accounts.
However, videos depicted the influencers lounging in fancy hotel rooms, relishing a multi-course dinner, and exploring Guangzhou city. What attracted prime attention was their Chinese factory. The factory was radiant and untarnished as though it was built just for their visit.
The Shein team is shown to be welcoming as they directed the influencers with sparkling smiles. The influencers saw the production line as they walked through it and took a shot at operating at the shipping station. One of the influencer busted out about how high-tech the factories are, she mentioned that workers were paid generously, and how delighted they were about encouraging the brand as now they have victimized how shein manufactures its clothes.
Netizens are wondering isn't what they call promotion?
Dani DMC, one of the influencers, indirectly addressed the issue of poor working conditions. In a now-deleted video which was posted by her on her Instagram account, she punned about being an "investigative journalist." Later she mentions that she spoke to a factory worker who was "surprised by all the rumours that had been spread in the US."
What was shown was controversial to what the world knows about Shein's dismal working conditions. In 2012, a Public Eye report exposed Shein by highlighting that workers in Guangzhou were getting inadequate wages for working 75 hours for weeks with just one day off in a month.
Irrespective of Shein's well known known human rights violations, the six influencers acclaimed it as 'life-changing.' Shein Singapore's Instagram posted a video of the influencers expressing their gratitude. One of the influencers Sudduth said, ‘It is so nice to look around the table and see women that look like me.’ Whereas Saavedra added, 'I'm only 21 and so the fact that I have opportunities like this is crazy.'