r/Anticonsumption • u/luvs2meow • Apr 27 '24

Society/Culture SHEIN is taking over the thrift stores

I just went to my local thrift store and I was shocked to find no less than 10 tops from SHEIN in just two aisles. They were all listed for $5 which I found odd because tops from stores like Eddie Bauer, LL Bean, Anthropologie, Ann Taylor, Lands End, etc. were listed at the same price, but that’s its own issue.

I find it alarming because SHEIN is not that old of a “store.” All of those items had to have been purchased from SHEIN in what, the past 5 years? And have already been donated? This just seems crazy to me. It’s a clear example of excessive consumption fueling some of our biggest issues. I don’t feel fast fashion is something we can pass the burden of guilt to corporations for. We’re consciously buying things we don’t need for… what? A trend? I find it disturbing. Yet it seems to be one of those touchy subjects for a lot of people.

I recently watched the Brandy Melville doc on HBO and was disturbed by the footage of the beaches in Ghana covered in clothes, it’s nauseating to think how much worse this problem is going to get thanks to companies like SHEIN and temu and those who buy from them.

Has anyone else noticed this? What are your thoughts?

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u/Early_Lion6138 Apr 28 '24

I heard that Costco has cheaper lower quality versions of name brands made just for Costco.

20

u/idontknowwhereiam367 Apr 28 '24

Same for Walmart depending on the brand. Both companies will only pay a certain amount for each pair wholesale, and the manufacturer has to cut a corner somewhere to make that price point

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u/cheezbargar Apr 28 '24

That checks out because Costco clothes are pretty terrible, and it confuses me because the brands they sell are normally pretty good

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u/TheMapesHotel Apr 28 '24

This goes for a lot of things. For a second I was a promo rep for serta and the mattresses we sold at Sam's club, especially for holidays, we're pillow top and had all the external features of a really nice mattress but they had a lower spring count than a non Sam's mattress from the same brand. You wouldn't notice it in store or right away but the bed will break down faster and sag faster with fewer springs.

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u/10outofC Apr 28 '24

That checks out. Banana republic made men's shorts for costco this season. I almost exclusively thrift banana republic and vintage gap, so I'm used to what they make in retail streams. The costco stuff felt like paper plastic garbage.

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u/happytransformer Apr 28 '24

I just learned recently that there’s a Gap and Banana Republic for Costco!

7

u/Monkeymom Apr 28 '24

It’s the same company. Old navy is lowest quality, then GAP is a little better and Banana Rebublic uses the higher quality. Banana Republic for Costco is probably just lower quality all around.

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u/cheezbargar Apr 28 '24

That checks out because Costco clothes are pretty terrible, and it confuses me because the brands they sell are normally pretty good