Shein accused of cultural appropriation in Mexico

The Chinese mark of fast-fashion withdrew of his catalogue the blouse after being accused of plagiarism

29 of July of 2022
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The garment exposed in the app and in the web of Shein, between thousands and thousands of pieces of clothes. The offer of products is something that characterises to Shein, that possesses big strength in Spain, especially between the more youngsters for offering some really low prices and a proportional quality to them. Between these thousands of products (clothes, accessories, bags, jewelery and until complements for home) found the "Top Rivet in fan with patterned floral", a piece with cultural elements mayas, and very seemed to the of the Mexican mark 'Yucachulas'.

It was then, when 'Yucachulas' decided to interpose a complaint to the textile giant Chinese by a "event of plagiarism". Like answer, Shein, finally decided to withdraw the product of his catalog, and therefore, proceeded to withdraw his available process. Through  press release, the company emphasize that "was not his intention break the royalties of anybody." Besides, specified that all the providers of Shein are forced to fulfil with the politics of companies and make a process with which verifies that no infringe the copyright of third: "If we discover that some provider does not fulfil, take immediate measures. In Shein respect and celebrate all the cultures. We reaffirm our respect by the artisans ed Mexico and of all the world."

Fuente: El Emprendedor. Comparativa de ambas prendas
Source: The Emprendedor. Comparative between both pieces.

The mark Yucachulas, of the south-east of Mexico, showed through his social networks both pieces: his, of 2017, and the one of the catalog of Shein. They were almost identical, save by a minimum detail in the neck and of the sleeve. The Office of Mexican Culture, in favour of YucaChulas issued an annoucement in which it defended the culture of this blouse: "The blouses or huipiles short, like east, make in diverse mayan communities of the states of Yucatán, Campeche and Quintana Roo, like part of the identity of this mayan village and like an economic alternative for his daily sustain."

The textile giant Chinese: in the sight for imitating designs

It is not the first time that Shein is accused that his pieces copy to other designs: two years ago, Emma Warren, founder and designer of his own brand , Emma Warren Design, also shared through his profile of Instagram a comparison between his own piece, and another that found and Shein. It treated of a white sweatshirt with an impression of two bees floating to both sides of a red heart. Both were identical, and Emma accused to the textile giant Chinese to "steal his work." Emma gave in the nail of one of the problems that Shein and the fastfashion means for the rest of designers: "they Do the same, simply change a minimum detail. It is so irrating because they are selling it by a third of the price." Another of the a lot of marks that have seen like his designs had an exact reply in the app of Shein are Zara or the manufacturer of the mythical boots, Dr Martins, obviously, in both cases with a much more reduced price to the that offer both.

The company finds operative in more than 220 markets, through the e-commerce and have a fundamental pillar in his strategies of marketing that carries them to be very known by the youngest generations: a lot of influencers fashionable are consumers of his products and promote them in his social networks through his codes of discount. The Chinese company finds in a moment 'exultant' in the economic field: in 2020, they registered a figure of business that surpassed the 63.500 million yuans.