How can SHEIN and TEMU keep prices so shockingly low?

How do fast fashion brands manage to keep their price tags so low? I explain exactly how in this video.
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[@didik9552]

That’s my biggest issue - how do I as a consumer know that the 50 euro T-shirt costs 50 euro because the worker is paid more than 18 cents, and not because the retailer makes a bigger profit? It’s impossible.

[@jordang7479]

Same!

[@glockenrein]

Yes! I always assume the mid-range priced stuff is worth the Shein price in actuality. I do not believe in clothes retailers’ integrity at all.

[@atuvera9021]

I can't understand how Kim K for example charges 100 u$ for a stretchy dress made in China.

[@schneeroseful]

Buy clothes from brands who are registered in the fair fashion fund

[@danarzechula3769]

​@@schneerosefulyes what she said!!

[@flower-ss2jt]

I worked in Waste Disposal - and if anyone saw the amount of textiles/clothes for disposal/incineration in UK they would be utterly appalled. Only 10% of donated clothes make it to a charity shop, the rest is baled and sold to trader overseas who take a loss on the bales as around 40% of the clothes are unsaleable as they are torn, stained, damaged. These clothes are not disposed of in registered landfill sites, but discarded on beaches etc where they cause environmental damage. 10% of the world's emissions are caused by the fashion industry. Buy quality clothes, made in EU/UK, and learn how to mend them!

[@sbffsbrarbrr]

Interesting and sad.

[@flower-ss2jt]

@@sbffsbrarbrr It makes me so angry that people really do not want to know about the wastage in garment manufacture, yet are mindlessly thrilled at a cheap new clothing item.

[@amorfranco8467]

learning how to mend something is something as cheap as searching for hot to do it on youtube. so theres no excuses on i cant mend it , but i personally think that the mayority of people doesnt want to learns how to sew

[@flower-ss2jt]

@@amorfranco8467 If more people learnt how to mend clothes rather than sitting in a road carrying a banner 'Just Stop Oil' - the environment would benefit, as would exploited workers.

[@isobelwilson8822]

The little desk bins at my work say on them... "There's no such thing as 'away'. When you throw something away, it has to go somewhere". So true.

[@curious855]

I once crocheted two sleeves onto what I was pretty sure was a machine-knit sweater for a high-end boutique owner, because her usual crocheter was unavailable. Complex pattern I had to learn, needed next day. She paid me €6.00 for about 10 hours work. And she was quite happy to go off and sell the garment for about €80 as 'handmade'. Her overhead was minimal, so the bulk of the money went into her pocket. That said, nobody will pay a crafter what their items are worth, because of how cheaply they can buy throwaway items from places like Shein, despite the fact the crafted item will undoubtedly be cheaper in the long run.

[@fiercerodent]

I think most people, even ignoring poverty and affordability, just don't know what an item's true cost is any more, bc we're so removed from the production process. We're alienated from the things we own and produce. People who make things themselves have a better idea but of course, a lot of us no longer have the time and energy to work creatively. So when we see how expensive a handcrafted, high quality item is, with a fair supply chain and decent materials, we have no context for the price because we're so used to seeing much cheaper items that look the same at first glance.

[@curious855]

@@fiercerodent that is true. Even knowing how much work that was, I would be hard pressed to pay what the garment was worth. But my small experience with how little my work was worth certainly drove home how little workers are paid. I don't buy from Shein or Temu. I think it's false economy. Unfortunately, as someone else pointed out, it's all very well to want to see the factory workers get better conditions and pay, but before we boycott those companies, we need to find a way to simultaneously provide the workers with new jobs or the conditions they deserve.

[@calmbeforethestorm9498]

That is very upsetting. I think the best gift we can give our children is to teach them to sew. I wish I had learned. I do crochet. People have asked me to make them things that might take me a hundred hours to finish. I simply will not. I only crochet for myself and family.

[@lilibeth1947]

@@fiercerodent The key words here being "at first glance " that is why any handcrafted skill should be learnt at school.They teach how to detect quality

[@lilibeth1947]

@@calmbeforethestorm9498 Do they get angry when you say "No"?🙄

[@mje4678]

I think you forgot that they 'steal' the ideas from designers, so they cut their costs there too... Fast fashion really exploits everyone. Great video!

[@idalinawin]

Luxury brands do that as well. The point is to buy less and choose quality over quantity when necessary.

[@robynnordstrom7799]

Haven’t they also been accused of selling consumer data? So many reasons to not shop there.

[@mje4678]

@@idalinawin I agree that luxury brands copy from each other, (call it inspiration, but still...) but generally they modify/update things just enough to make it their own. Also, they are usually concerned about staying true to their 'look' or 'brand' . Fast fashion, operates more under the 'copy' method, IMO. And yes, I think we all can do with less clothes, myself included :D

[@lalaithan]

@@robynnordstrom7799 Yes, you're right. I think it was the company who owns Temu that got caught.

[@Icewing10]

Yes even Amazon does it too, to small businesses.

[@kimberlyperrotis8962]

I’m older and want to give my time perspective on clothing and fashion. As a teen in the 70s and young adult in the 80s, apparel costs dollar-for-dollar about the same then as it does now. For example, jacket is still around $30, a shirt around $20, shoes around $30, for the cheapest, which I had to buy then, as a student, if I could afford anything at all. But inflation has been tremendous since then, the dollar is worth several times less now. The difference in prices should reflect that, but it doesn’t. This is a combination of using lower-quality materials and techniques, the fast-fashion model, and moving manufacturing to countries where labor is exploited and abused. We Westerners have to accept the true costs of buying ethically-made, better-quality garments. I’m guessing this is at least 4 to 5 times the fast-fashion prices. The only way to get China and other countries to improve their labor laws and standards, and for manufacturers to use better quality, is to stop buying fast-fashion products produced there. All these petrochemical-based synthetic materials are damaging our environments worldwide, and fast, too. Vote with your wallets, ladies. To paraphrase the the late designer Vivienne Westwood, buy fewer but better, choose carefully, and make them last.

[@ceciliaexp]

“Vote with your wallets “ 💳 Wise words✨.

[@allegrosotto2126]

I was stopped in the street recently by a woman admiring my jacket. I’d found it in an op shop a few months earlier, it was pure wool and the label was an expensive brand from the 70s., one I could never afford back then. The jacket is in perfect condition and of a style that never really dated and importantly suits my body type.

[@justineleconte]

Indeed, prices in (fast) fashion are even cheaper now than 30 years ago, even though all costs have increased. In Western countries, our salaries/income have increased, rents have increased, transportation and food too… and yet now we expect to pay $5 for a t-shirt vs. $30 a few decades ago. I don’t know of any other industry where prices evolve in the contrary direction of everything else…

[@betsytodd3511]

Another thing about being older is that we may have a distorted idea of what is a high price. I used to think I would never pay $60 for a pair of jeans- that's for rich people! But then I decided to use an online inflation calculator, and I found out that the $14 Levi's I used to buy in the 70s are the equivalent of spending over $70 now.

[@revonda5204]

​@@betsytodd3511 I can't convince my husband of this fact!😊

[@pjalexandra]

This is a great video to share with folks who still don't understand this. No hype, just logic and arithmetic.

[@tannazdevadasi9719]

But those folks might argue that having a job and being paid even in low wages (as in Indonesia or China) is better to have no work at all. That's maybe why despite the horrible situation of the workplace, there's no will to change it for the workers. Also they might point it out that if the income is low, so is the cost of living, and therfore the workers aren't so unhappy. I must say I don't agree with it. I had a discussion about this exact topic and I'm only reflecting their opinion here.

[@AyaMBayomi]

here in Egypt, even Egyptian fashion brands are fast fashion, and with inflation most of us can't afford anything better. keep in mind that we used to have a great fashion industry here, somehow it got dismantled in favor of this environmental nightmare.

[@monicabarnett9231]

I’ve worked as technical designer in the USA for nearly 20 years… thank you for spreading awareness of these ultra fast fashion brands! The clothing is such poor quality and often these brands aren’t actually fitting and tweaking any of the patterns to make them fit properly as the cycle time is so fast. I would love more people to becoming interested in learning how to mend clothes. I often sew buttons back on for friends who otherwise would have thrown a perfectly good short away! Mending is a superpower!

[@aquamarine_nz2296]

I agree. Everyone should know how to mend. At one time, most people did, or most women did anyway. The same with hemming, such as shortening jeans or trousers. I'm shocked by the amount of people who don't know how to take their jeans up when they buy them. And no, you don't need a sewing machine, it's quicker with one, but still easy enough by hand.

[@christinefisher7900]

The day I found out that M&S clothing is produced in Bangladesh and not the UK, is the day I decided to refresh my sewing skills. Having very particular opinions on style and fit, which are never on trend and never long enough - regardless of being fast or slow fashion - it's been easy to avoid the fast fashion trap. I'm looking at your lovely warm cable knit jumper you've been wearing lately and I think it's time to learn how to knit. The only slavery involved will be me slaving over a pair of knitting needles - so that leads me to a new conundrum...are fabric and wool suppliers for home sewing just as dodgy as clothing suppliers are?

[@88hhg]

Don’t quote me on this but I believe you can find fair trade wool and other fibers just like you can find fair trade clothing. It’s not going to be at a chain craft store though. Something I personally try to do if I can’t find fair trade, I choose to purchase from small local shops so at least I’m not supporting some big company trying to make a huge profit.

[@queenbunnyfoofoo6112]

There are independent yarn producers in the US. Their products aren't cheap, but they're beautiful.

[@sherylwickenheiser2582]

I was lucky to have a friend that raised sheep and alpacas and got some of the loveliest yarn. I’m in Pennsylvania and there are local people raising animals and selling wool. We even have festivals around and our state farm show has a sheep to shawl competition every January.

[@selectiveoutrage6617]

Temu, a Chinese brand, makes more money selling your personal data. Their cheap products are just a trojan horse into your privacy.

[@comealongcomealong4480]

@selectiveoutrage6617 Thank you kindly for this information about Temu. I did not know. You are the second comment in this thread to share these details.

[@2Ten1Ryu]

I was looking for this comment. More people need to see this. There is KZbin content out there about this, I recommend people go and watch. They apparrently sell all of their products at a loss, although they are cheap to begin with, just so they can get and sell your data.

[@susanchaney5059]

This is why I never buy from those sites!! Thank you for explaining it so well!

[@SecretSquirrelFun]

I distinctly remember when I first noticed that the fabric used to make T-shirts had become incredibly thin. I was in a “rich” area’s shopping precinct and inside a well established brand name clothing store. My partner was looking for some sneakers in his size (15 which wasn’t ever easy), and while we waited he saw a t-shirt design that he liked. We went to look at it more closely and for his size etc, and when I held and felt the shirt it was so thin. I placed my hand inside the shirt and held it up near a window and it was almost completely see through😳only the pattern created small opaque areas. The price was $60 aud back then (which is $80 aud in 2023) or €48 today. The quality was poor, the stitching was poor and there were loose threads in multiple places. I thought that perhaps the thinner fabric was just a fashion trend, and finer material meant quality. Sadly, as we all know, this is now just the normal level of fabric quality. Justine has amazing knowledge and advice and I highly recommend that everyone watch her capsule wardrobe videos - watch ALL Justine’s videos. ❤ Oh and Justine, I really hope that you will put a book together one day. Your advice needs to be captured for the future and as a record of the current changes happening in the garment industry. Including the blight that is “fast fashion” - it should be referred to as “destructive fashion”. Even calling it “fashion” is highly insulting to the genuine designers from whom they shamelessly steal their designs. Anyway, enough said.

[@janakase6319]

Recently there was one bold book author who dared to write public article speaking among other things also about how much do autors earn. Estonian example, small country, small market of course. Still, when author writes a book in a year and earns 3000 euros, it is very little, I find. People buy books for 22-45 euros in bookshops. Only 2 euros of these 22 go to the author.

[@allegrosotto2126]

In America some authors in small market give option for buyers to get from them directly that way avoiding Amazon.

[@nadiac6042]

@@allegrosotto2126🤔🤔👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@wannabe41]

Thank you for this very informative video! My main issues with fast fashion are 1)Human rights - the low pay and poor working conditions for the factory workers and 2)the impact on the environment as both retailers and consumers discard huge amounts of unsold and unwanted clothing, which ends up in landfills, often in poor countries. Despicable. I almost feel nauseous when I see a notification about an influencer doing a Shein or Temu clothing haul.

[@gorejs8396]

Merci, Justine! 3 in a row, & this one's yet another banger. Thank you for clearly breaking down how Shein & other ultrafast fashion brands are ultimately exploiting us all. I love a good chart, & kudos to you for using visualized data to make your very important point. Buying is voting, & as long as people keep voting for this kind of thievery, it will continue. No matter how inexpensive it is at the point of purchase, on a global scale, fast fashion is far too expensive.

[@TheKmonta]

You are totally correct.

[@tracymeserve5627]

There are a couple of points I would like to add to this. Temu and Shein don't pay taxes to import goods to the United States, so they are also saving a ton of money on that--Zara and H&M have to pay import taxes. Shelbizlee did a great video explaining how they get away with this, but basically it is because they are shipping goods directly from China to the consumer. Also, while Shein and Temu produce 10,000+ new items a month, they actually create very small batches, so they rarely have leftover items and can create items quickly around microtrends.

[@karenbc99]

I wondered why they don't charge taxes on their products. Is that legal? I've never bought anything but curious.

[@tracymeserve5627]

@@karenbc99 I think what you are thinking of is sales tax, which no company has to charge if they do not have a physical location in the state you reside in. Import taxes are the taxes the companies have to pay when they ship things into the country. There is a tax exemption for imports under $800, so Shein and Temu purposely ship their products directly from China to consumers in the US to avoid paying these taxes at the port.

[@kayelle8005]

And because they are going direct to consumers they are also bypassing laws about what toxic chemicals can be used in the manufacturing process. Chemicals on clothes that are harmful to the consumer wearing them and harmful to the environment and harmful to workers and consumers that need to live in those environments.

[@robina.9402]

​@@tracymeserve5627 Good points! Even if we identify unsafe products, it's really hard to block sellers if all businesses are outside the US. I was in the bicycle industry during the early pandemic, and shops were flooded with repairs for bikes purchased on the internet that were straight up dangerous. Like the pedal falls off during riding or batteries overheating while charging and causing fires. But it was really hard to figure out how to report because none of the companies were based in the US. It also gets into free trade agreements and politics real fast. AND even if a new law passes, they will search for a loop hole.

[@justineleconte]

Customs fees would indeed be part of the retailer’s share (which gets suppressed in the ultra fast fashion system). Shipping straight from China to the final consumer also allows Shein to bypass the mandatory safety checks done upon importing: they use toxic chemicals at levels above what’s allowed in the EU and get away with it. Regarding batches: that’s greenwashing and not true: Shein communicates that they produce small batches and re-produce only when an item is sold out, “to avoid over-production“. But with thousands of new items launched PER DAY, you better believe that not everything sells out… And many items reach customers with quality/fit issues, but since returns are not accepted, it’s also the customer who will throw away its newly received clothes.

[@planarian]

Thanks largely to your informative and insightful videos, I switched to seeking natural fabrics from thrift stores for most of my clothing purchases. It’s been painful to see the increasing amounts of Shein products on the racks at every one I visit 😣 The treasures were buried enough without the additional nonsense!

[@jvin248]

Other industries are experiencing this same dis-intermediation shift (cutting out all the middle-men). From retailer-brand-factory to brand-factory and next it will be the factory selling direct to consumers without a brand in the middle. People are overall on a fashion simplification trend. From suits in the '50s to jeans and polo shirts in most work places - the cost of making the fashion went down a lot. The greek togas or medieval cloaks that were rectangular cloth draped and pinned over a person (cloth was expensive so keep it as a blanket when traveling). Might be an interesting episode to do on how clothing was simple, got very complicated in the 1500s and again in Victorian times then got simple again plus cloth and sewing techniques to allow it.

[@Katiedora122]

Intellectually, I knew this, but seeing the actual money breakdown is so jarring.

[@autumnpruett1198]

THANK YOU for breaking this down!! I was wondering this for so long. Temu and Shein are notorious.

[@hn6634]

Oh Justine. Thank you! Please keep making these videos❤ I literally knit my own jumpers and blankets, when I don’t buy second hand.

[@Lauryn-Bay]

I adore your videos about sustainability, clothing-making and its true costs! They help to understand connections and be more responsible

[@SahelSarai]

Thank you for doing what you're doing, Justine! Because of you I haven't bought anything from fast fashion since July and I don't plan to again unless I absolutely have to. I'm definitely part of the struggling class here in Canada as a student and working minimum wage but I thrift and it works out. It's doable.

[@comealongcomealong4480]

@SahelSarai Love your style! I too have found that I'm walking past fast fashion brand stores more and more. I still browse occasionally, but am less tempted to buy low quality pieces.

[@ladyliberty417]

H&M was my thing for a long time in NYC , I admit !! but I learned the truth about it eventually and now know better! Thanks Justine for your dedication to this issue- we all need to know what is really going on in the world of fast fashion💖❣️

[@HerrFinsternis]

Yes I learned that a 29 euro shirt is also a pretty darn immoral buy. Which isn't truly new to me, you've talked plenty about this in the past, but seeing it spelled out like this helps to drive the message home. Wel done!

[@katem3961]

This was so informative Justine. I appreciate you breaking it down and presenting just the facts. You are the best! ❤

[@revonda5204]

Justine, thank you so much for explaining this to people. Over the years, I've tried to explain the process to people long before Zara & Temu. People have looked at me like I was nuts or feeding them a line. I have a degree in fashion merchandising & design. I worked at a garment company, as a department buyer & manager for a small local department store chain. I've even worked at a bespoke furniture manufacturer buying fabric & frames and pricing is quite similar. People, please appreciate quality fabrics, clothing, furniture & for you, Justine, jewelry, too!😊

[@sheryljohnson9540]

Excellent information, Justine! Thank you for continuing to educate your audience about the realities behind fast fashion. Any time the topic of buying clothing comes up with friends or family, in conversation I tell them what I have learned from your videos, and usually their reaction is complete shock.

[@justineleconte]

Thanks for spreading the info!

[@kejufra1]

Thanks so much for your so informative, so well investigated videos. 💕

[@bobbiecalgaro5888]

I have been aware of these practices for some time. I try to stay away from fast fashion but as another commenter said. How do we know that other retailers aren’t practicing the same wage scales? Even with better fabrics and higher prices. I don’t make everything but I find myself making more and more of my clothes with sustainable fabrics. I’m looking to find more and more sustainable clothing brands to shop. Also being a seamstress in my 70s, I know quality fabric when I see it. That is a plus.

[@lisca2866]

Absolutely very helpful. Thank you I always show hear videos in hopes that it stops folks from buying from these brands.

[@LasYuyu]

Thank you! Everyone should share this video!

[@lizamarie671]

this video is an eye opener for me Justine… thank you

[@TheZagrean]

Justine I appreciate and respect everything you do to educate us, the public, and realise how desperate the situation with fast and ultra fast fashion is. As I already said previously in another comment I have never even opened the shein site or anything similar, I do buy from fast fashion brands like hm clothes for my 3 children but I also trift a lot, especially for myself. I live in eastern europe but I just returned from a 4 day trip in Barcelona and honestly I was shocked by the mass of people going in and out of primark…I came back feeling hopeless….😢

[@mariecloutier3548]

I really appeciate your videos and how you shed light on the fast fashion industry. Thank you for what you do and happy holidays!

[@justineleconte]

Thank you! You too!

[@lulu_g8445]

Thank you, Justine! I appreciate you so much!!

[@malcagottlieb6084]

Thank you for this thoughtful and important video. I hope that it helps make a change.

[@nora80209]

Thank you Justine, I’ve learned from you a lot of things that I didn’t know😮🙏

[@amorfranco8467]

i really love your videos, i always learn something new... this is like a scary moviewere brands wants us to buy more and more to keep themselves alive!

[@debbiekotch6006]

This was a very informative video. I wondered how these sites could sell everything so cheap.

[@korinaviado3333]

Wowzer another video 😃 you’re on a roll 😊 thanks for this updated video. We need it out there since Temu and SHEIN are so strong-wrong at their own game right now. Is that a pass-through window/door behind you? Started 3% on Netflix, so far so good on episode 3 now :D

[@jvin248]

"Garment workers are vastly underpaid" which is a common truth but their local country tax burden defines if this is just bad or really quite terrible. Twenty dollars an hour in California may actually be worse for paying rent and buying food than a two dollar an hour wage for a place with more reasonable housing options - since housing costs reflect property tax rates (rent the property owner pays the government) and local costs of living (which is also a product of government costs). Your fast fashion folks are on a treadmill fundamentally chasing the lowest cost government where cheap labor is the beneficial byproduct.

[@OliverJazzz]

You know where the average quality of life is the highest? In countries with higher taxes, that's where! Check the Nordics as an example. When it comes to clothing factories in Asia, the workers are practically always exploited, but they don't have much choice. Their poor quality of living isn't because of taxes but due to low pay.

[@jackiepenner-lourdes3374]

Love your channel and products Justine!

[@saliciousable]

Thank you Justine for your educational outreach. I wish everyone under 25 had to watch your channel. My students are completely sucked in by social media. And fast fashion influencers should be ashamed of themselves.

[@justineleconte]

Show your students the video 😉

[@abarry2109]

I love you for SPELLING OUT inside story of cost,expense and margins!

[@emmamc8592]

Thank you so much Justine, very informative!

[@loreleidenton7000]

Thank you for bringing this to our attention.

[@NiNa-xu5dq]

Thank u so much, well done and very informative ❤

[@evelevrae1]

Appreciate your videos. Learn new things for my personal look and beyond

[@kelco64]

You are such a wealth of information and talent! Thank you so much for helping me receive my bag! I ❤ it so much I know I will be ordering different sizes and colors! ❤

[@mrschristinebond]

Great video. I'd be interested to see a version on what the cost should be, if everyone in the supply chain is going paid and treated fairly, and how to know if the cost is reflective of that, eg is an ethical brand, versus simply expensive. Love these videos ❤

[@sydneykasmar]

So informative. Many others industries do the same.

[@texasbluebonnet4303]

This is one question that has been on my mind,!

[@bohemiansusan2897]

I call it the high cost of fashion as the biggest cost behind fast fashion is what we don't see. I won't claim sainthood and claim that I stay away from it, because I don't have much of a choice due to being very low income. I do avoid Temu, Shein and the worst of it, except for Walmart. I do buy there. When I can afford it, I try to buy mid-range brands that has better fabric for the T-shirts. I don't care to sew T-shirts and only sew knit tops or dresses when exquisite fabric presents itself. I also shop a lot at thrift stores as well.

[@sofiapillichshammer6169]

Great Video ❤Thanks for comparing those two price strategyies. Would be very intressting if "fast fashion brands" consider the ultra fast fashion" strategy.

[@jeanne-marie8196]

Very informative. Thank you

[@FooBun]

I was just watching a docu called 'fashion reimagined' about a brand trying to source ethically and sustainably. Many of the issues they came up against I recognised from watching your channel 🙏

[@marjorieflorange4684]

Really interesting… and a bit scary 😱. Thanks for your work in educating all of us!

[@pompom8030]

Great Video, important topic! ❤

[@lalaithan]

Fast fashion made me so nauseated (I'm disgusted at how we've decided to treat people with no autonomy in the matter) that I learned how to sew from KZbin. I go to the thrift store searching for interesting fabrics instead of merely looking for stuff to wear. I am using sewing supplies that were originally my grandmothers. Don't even get me started on Amazon, Temu, Shein, and their friends, they make me angry even when I see a neighbor has stuff from them.

[@comealongcomealong4480]

@lalaithan Your post is really interesting. Your personal values effected behavioral change ie teaching yourself to sew. I like the creativity and unique clothing pieces you describe. /I just wanted to inject a little kindness about the purchasing decisions of others - like your neighbors. You'd know that many factors contribute to how people shop - from their age group, income, type of work, body size and shape, location and climate, health conditions or disability, etc etc. As Justine says, we are all evolving as consumers at our own pace. It's interesting how many of the comments here mention their friends and family having zero knowledge about how and where their clothing is made! /In this thread @kimberlyperrotis8962 shares a great quote from the late British designer Vivienne Westwood. Famous for her use of recycled fabrics. It reads "To paraphrase the late designer, Vivienne Westwood, buy less of higher quality, choose carefully, and make it last." That is an easy, non-preaching message that any of us can share 😊

[@lalaithan]

@@comealongcomealong4480 Yeah, I agree. I think it's a sign that a lot people care about their friends/family though which is a good thing. I've never brought it up with anyone who wasn't interested, but I helped an elderly lady in my apartment building find alternatives due to issues with Amazon sending broken or cheaply made things.

[@sadhbh5731]

What a fantastic video I hope it goes viral 🙏🙏🙏💚💚💚

[@bretaskinner3143]

I'm a home sewer. When I was unemployed, friends said, make and sell clothes. I responded, no one is going to buy a $100 T-shirt. I enjoy sewing, and I know that taking 3 hours is too long to cut & sew a T-shirt ;) (does anyone else hand baste the sleeve and/or neck binding before machine sewing?) I do wonder where the fabric is sourced. I prefer on-line "boutique" shops rather then big box. Thank you for the information.

[@adelheidsnel5171]

Bravo. Well broken down. That is why I never shop these vulture brands. It’s heartbreaking and a legalised crime to humanity and the environment. And I’ll share this great and concise video

[@kennalong]

I would love to see a video of the brands you recommend. Good quality clothes, for all ranges of budgets. Thank you for the video!

[@lbrowning2543]

Despicable to pay 18 cents for anything, let alone sewn garments is slavery. The workers need to organize unions.

[@nancyletourneau]

It may be dangerous for factory workers to organize in their country. We tend to think everyone on earth has the same advantages we do - would that were true! And our freedoms in the U.S. are eroding now, thanks to politics.

[@klaudiamaron6492]

very small part of your pay check goes to your union dues, and what you get in return is worth significantly more. You "invest" in ur union, they give you insane rewards. It's worth it. @@worthtryingonce

[@heycidskyja4668]

@@worthtryingonce Have you not heard of collective bargaining?

[@lbrowning2543]

@@nancyletourneau So just accept slavery? Yes, it’s dangerous. Freedom is like that dealing with selfish immoral people. US workers need to reorganize and stand up to the manipulations of the radical right.

[@AngelaReyeroMartinez]

Remember that these kind of brands work in countries where unionizing is against the law :/

[@veronicavarela2041]

Thank you for speaking some facts.

[@bahrieker1766]

Thanks for the video Justin! Can you also cover the recent zara campaign controversy?

[@mandam8227]

Thank you! This is a great video to share with people to explain why fast fashion is so terrible. My question to you is…How do I avoid these fast fashion retailers? Is there a few questions I can ask my self before a purchase? And as a plus size (16 USA), there are fewer retailers and all seem tied to fast fashion or cost $300 for a pair of pants. Any tips on how to be an ethical and responsible consumer?

[@eurossocial]

Nice and very informative video. You have a new subscriber to your channel. 👍

[@auricia201]

7:10 Exactly, that's the point. For cheap clothes to be worth it, they have to sell huge quantities, much more than people Actually Need, therefore, promoting consumerism is vital and waste is inevitable 💀

[@nataliebutler]

From what I've seen on Temu, t-shirts are 3 times the cost of cheap high street brands like Primark and everything is made with polyester rather than cotton.

[@jml4774]

Despicable and so sad. Thank you for educating us. Also, please give us an update on your new home!

[@terrydacktull]

Thank you for sharing! It’s crazy how immoral these brands are.

[@CM-lc1nk]

I have 2 of your t-shirt,Justine,and they really worth the Money.I hope you'll create more clothes in the future,not only bags and jewellery ❤

[@MehdiScent]

Wow you’re 1 M 😮 🎉

[@orangewedges]

Over the last year or so, Shein has been experimenting with physical pop-up stores around the world and they opened a permanent "showroom" in Tokyo where you can scan QR codes to buy the items online. Not sure if they'll actually open up more "stores" like this in different cities in the future.

[@justineleconte]

They have also tested pop-up stores in France and Germany. Clearly they are looking into retail…

[@YuliiaL]

In other side: big brands overpriced and throw their old collections on dumpster without any regrets, like coach.

[@marinejarry9026]

Super vidéo Justine ! jusque là on sait que les travailleurs des pays pauvres sont très mal rémunérés... mais on ne visualise pas la disproportion entre les différents postes de dépenses ! tu as su rendre ça très clair bien joué ;)

[@marywebb9264]

Justine, can you please tell me where the sweater you are wearing in this video is from? It is gorgeous!

[@LotsofWhatever]

They are also playing with customs overhead costs as well in some cases.

[@bmackillop9937]

Great presentation

[@user-qp6lj6gu7s]

3:43 I wish there was numbers on what the retail and brand profits are compared to the other things mentioned like salaries, rents and taxes - does anyone know? I guess calculating the Value Added Tax and removing that is one way to get a bit closer to figuring it out

[@smoutchie]

Very interesting . Regarding basic T-shirt, I buy from H&M at 7,99€ (ribbed cotton black / white / grey). I do that because they're great, I had some of them for 6 years and it's still in perfect condition. I'll try to find alternatives but I also do not want to fall in a trap (in which the production costs are the same and it's just the reseller who takes it all).

[@cartograp]

great video!

[@hana1664]

It doesn't stop to amaze me how cheap clothes have become. When I started buying my own clothes in the 2000's, a T-shirt cost 650 CZK (26 EUR with today's conversion rate), now it costs 125 CZK (5 EUR). I am talking about retail and the same brand. Anyway, I believe you can actually cut down the garment worker and material cost further if you produce in the right part of China, you know what I mean...

[@dickiewongtk]

5 euro is normal. 26 euro is too expensive.

[@melissaharley3237]

Thank you!

[@unik428]

I guess this same approach of ultra fast fashion brands was already described by Emile Zola in his novel The Ladies' Paradise (1883)...

[@sirena7116]

I bought one thing from Shein simply to see what the quality was like. It was as expected. I've never purchased from them again, and I send this video to a few of my friends who buy from Shein and Temu regularly.

[@MarieCarro]

HM have now decided to save on their profit by cutting hours for their retail workers. At least here in Sweden. My union made a whole investigative piece on it in our membership magazine. While the founder's son remains Sweden's richest man. He tops even the Ikea family.

[@brendaharrisArt]

An eyeopener Justine

[@elizabethpace1591]

Absolutely despicable to exploit workers this way in order to make such tiny profits. 😡Thank you for sharing this very informative video 🙂

[@aureyd2515]

And not just workers, the use of prison labor is very profitable. If you're thinking just China does this, clothing is also made by US inmates. Cheap labor is a big driver for sentencing.

[@Deb-ator]

Indeed, but I suspect that some unethical brands preoccupied with disproportionate profits are probably selling £/$5 t-shirts for more than £/$29. I am returning to buying natural fabrics for quality and longevity and to save money in the long run. Alas fast fashion will always be popular because of I-can't-wear-this-twice posse who gorge on social media influencers.

[@spidarant]

I wish retail clothes (or any products, really) were required to have a label with the price broken down like you did in the video. A little tag telling us exactly where the money goes would be so helpful in making purchasing decisions.

[@kimberlyperrotis8962]

I buy only good-quality, natural-material items, take good care of them, and wear them forever. Keeping the to fairly classic styles, instead of trends, gives items more longevity. Many trends are now specifically designed and pushed by brands to maximize their profits by using cheap polyester and similar fibers. That’s what this year’s trends are all focused on: sheers, mesh, lace, etc., dirt-cheap to produce. Real trends that come from what the consumer wants are rarely offered, the brands try to create demand for more sales by designing “new trends”.

[@RCGWho]

I've wondered if trends like bootie shorts and crop tops are promoted by the industry because minimal fabric = maximized profit.

[@trishs1450]

I buy fast fashion (Not Shein but like H and M and Forever 21) but it lasts me years. I don't get why people say it falls apart fast

[@redartemis3955]

This makes a lot of sense and I totally agree. But you see - I live in Portugal and here the majority of people I know earn around 1000 euros after tax. Which makes it 50 euros a day. With the average 1-bedroom apartment being around 800 euros a month, it’s literally impossible to pay even 29 euros for a T-shirt. Fast fashion thrives being everyone is poor. Not only south east Asia

[@irinairina4201]

Like you present the situation it makes more sense to buy from shein and temu than from brands. When the production costs are almost similar, I would rather buy cheep and not finance retailers to make huge profits. Many brands produce cheep and only the brand name sels the garment due to advertising. A T-shirt for 29€ is outrageous.

[@lazygardens]

It would be nice to see your graphics. The pale colored green and teal text on the medium grey background is UNREADABLE!

[@dagnolia6004]

GREAT vid

[@calmbeforethestorm9498]

How long does it take to make the shirt? The worker is getting practically nothing. I am almost 69 and one of my few regrets is I never learned to sew. I really do try to live my life with as little exploitation as possible. But seems everything we enjoy is a result of exploitation. Thank you for this lesson.

[@lizcademy4809]

Another way fast fashion can cut their costs, at least in the USA: there's a certain value, I think $600, under which they pay much less tax and customs duties as a per cent, than if they were charged for a shipping container as a whole. Traditional imports were by the shipping container (worth thousands of dollars) which was divided into individual orders at a fulfillment house within the country, then packaged for delivery. Ultra fast fashion packages individual orders in Asia, and when they're shipped over, they go straight to delivery. No fulfillment house, no agent, and lower taxes and duties. I don't buy fast fashion ... I sew about 1/4 of my clothing (no time for more), and that made me very picky about fabric, fit and construction. I'll happily pay $80 for a knit op that looks and feels fantastic and will last me close to 10 years. And I know was made ethically.