Fast fashion’s hidden human labor cost.

As online shopping has evolved into a marketplace dominated by extremely low prices, the hidden human cost behind these bargains has been significant. Consumers have grown accustomed to inexpensive products, but many of these come at the expense of ethical labor practices and fair working conditions.

Retail giants like Shein and Temu have been at the forefront of this low-cost trend, but their business models have faced serious scrutiny. In April 2023, a U.S. congressional commission report linked both companies, along with other Chinese retailers, to allegations of forced labor and exploitative working environments. Reports surfaced of Shein factory workers enduring grueling 18-hour shifts without overtime pay, with only a single day off each month, highlighting major concerns about labor rights.

However, the problem extends far beyond just Shein and Temu. The fashion industry as a whole has been plagued by troubling labor conditions. In June, an Italian court ruled against a manufacturer producing handbags for luxury brand Dior, finding that it had outsourced production to Chinese suppliers who allegedly forced workers to live inside factories around the clock. The court’s decision underscored the widespread nature of these exploitative practices, suggesting that poor labor conditions remain a persistent issue across the entire fashion industry.