“I ordered a bag from Shein with a Zara label.”
One TikTok user is validating rumors that SHEIN is selling the exact same clothing as other popular brands. How did she do it? By ordering different pants that are almost identical at Zara and SHEIN and comparing the two.
TikTok content creator Emma Lightbown (@emma_lightbown), who hosts the Off The Hanger podcast and produces fashion content, said she saw a post on Facebook claiming that Zara and SHEIN were selling the exact same items and using the same manufacturer. Out of curiosity, she decided to create a two-part TikTok collection, ordering a piece from SHEIN’s “Maija” collection and comparing it to a very similar piece she ordered from Zara.
Her original post, asking whether Zara and SHEIN had the same manufacturer, received 1.1 million views. Later, her followers exceeded 100,000.
Lightbown test: Are Zara and SHEIN clothes the same?
Lightbown decided to order two pairs of pants, one from the “Maija” line, which is rumored to be the same as SHEIN’s “Zara dupe” line, and the other directly from Zara. She chose to order two pairs of pants with elastic bands for comparison.
Lightbown said she immediately noticed some big differences when the mail arrived. As she points out, the pants are made from a completely different material composition. These pants from Zara are made from 62% polyester and 33% viscose, among other materials. In comparison, this pair from SHEIN is made of 97% polyester.
Lightbrown also compared the hemming of both pants. According to her, the Zara pair has a noticeably cleaner look, while the SHEIN pair has “original binding.”
“The quality is not very good, and the fabric is not good either,” Lightbrown said, holding this pair of SHEIN in his hand. She then showed the audience this pair of shoes from Zara for comparison. “Compared to the Zara pair…the stitching is much better. The fabric quality is much better. The way it drapes and hangs is better.”
Lightbrown purchased a pair of SHEIN shoes for 8.40 pounds and a pair of Zara shoes for 29.99 pounds, equivalent to approximately US$11.15 and US$39.81 respectively. Lightbrown felt that the SHEIN pants were much inferior to the ones she bought at Zara, so she recommended buying the more expensive version, even if the price was double or triple.
What are the differences between Zara and SHEIN?
Zara and SHEIN are both fast fashion suppliers, which means they can make and display clothing in a matter of weeks. However, online blogs and publications describe them as having significantly different supply structures.
Zara’s suppliers can create a garment from conception to execution in three weeks, using a network of 1,800 suppliers and 7,200 factories in countries around the world.
In comparison, SHEIN has about 185 verified suppliers, mainly located in China. The company does not rely on suppliers from different companies to provide different types of products; instead, it chooses to create nearly all of its products within a few concentrated geographic areas.
Do Zara and SHEIN share suppliers?
It is possible that Zara and SHEIN share some suppliers, although this has not been confirmed. This also does not mean that Zara and SHEIN have the same products.
More likely, what Lightbrown says in the video is true: SHEIN is simply taking other companies’ clothing styles, effectively ripping off the brand. Because it also follows the fast fashion model, it can quickly copy clothing from other popular companies like Lululemon, Alo, and Zara.
But SHEIN’s factories often use significantly lower quality materials. Lightbrown is not the first to notice that SHEIN uses a higher proportion of materials such as polyester in its deceptive products. According to a report published by Reuters, by 2023, polyester fiber will account for 75% of the fibers used in SHEIN brand products. This number will only increase to 81.5% in 2024. Despite a pledge to reduce the use of polyester by 2030, SHEIN shoppers still often notice that the products they buy are made entirely of polyester.
Will people continue to buy SHEIN?
Despite this, many people think that it is still worthwhile to buy SHEIN products, and they are deceived by other products. Another SHEIN brand, Glowmode, has proven popular with reviewers.
“Glowmode is definitely worth it. Same or better than the current Lulu, Alo and Athleta,” said one reviewer.
“Both are selling crap. But if I’m buying crap, I want to pay less,” another viewer added.
Despite Lightbrown calling out SHEIN’s unethical manufacturing practices, it seems some viewers won’t stop buying SHEIN anytime soon.
We have contacted Lightbrown via email and TikTok private message. We also contacted Zara via email and SHEIN via their official press form for comment. If they respond, we’ll let you know.
@emma_lightbown Zara pieces at Shein prices? ! This rumor keeps popping up so I wanted to know if it was true! Follow me to see the results! #zara #shein #zaradupes #fashionrumour ♬ Original Sound – Emma Lightbown
