Follow the Money: The Podcast Shein’s toxic business model
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Jul 15, 2025 Join investigative journalist Yara van Heugten as she dives deep into the murky waters of Shein's business model. With a keen eye for ethics, she unravels the manipulative tactics that lure young consumers and discusses alarming labor practices. Yara exposes the illusion of sustainability behind Shein's rapid production and the company's struggles with rising regulatory scrutiny in Europe. This insightful conversation reveals the challenges facing ultra-fast fashion and the shifting dynamics in the industry.
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Instagram Sparked The Reporting
- Yara van Heugten noticed Shein's sudden ubiquity through Instagram influencer posts and promotional events.
- Shein invited influencers to tour a glossy Chinese factory, prompting suspicion rather than reassurance.
Investigation Began With A Mysterious Insider
- Alexander Fanta and Yara van Heugten began the investigation after an anonymous insider emailed claims about Shein's internal practices.
- The insider later vanished and some provided documents proved inconsistent, but app features he flagged matched reality.
Intentionality vs. Regulatory Action
- Even if intentionality is hard to prove, app features can still mislead and push addictive behaviour in practice.
- Regulators under the DSA and consumer groups are now probing whether those patterns breach law.