It’s Not Just Shein: Decathlon, Kiabi and H&M Cited for Their Links to Similar Suppliers — What the Brands Say.

Behind the Major Brands: A Textile Industry That Is Difficult to Decipher.

Who actually makes the clothes sold by Kiabi, H&M, Zara, or Shein? Behind the very low prices and constantly changing collections lies a complex manufacturing chain, largely based on subcontracting and particularly difficult to trace.

As Shein continues to expand in France, particularly through the opening of physical stores, its business model continues to attract considerable criticism. Some industry players claim that the factories used by Shein also produce clothing for other major fashion retailers. However, this claim is disputed by representatives of the French fashion industry, who argue that brands do not necessarily rely on the same factories.

Very Difficult Traceability.

Clothing production is now largely globalized. A significant proportion of the products sold by many brands is manufactured in Asia. Production often involves several different companies: some handle spinning, while others are responsible for weaving, dyeing, or final assembly.

This organization makes it particularly difficult to identify the exact origin of a garment. Some brands may occasionally share the same suppliers. However, the real issue is not only where the clothes are made: production methods and working conditions can vary significantly from one company to another.

An Industry That Remains Highly Opaque.

Shein stands out for the extremely fast pace of its business model. The platform can launch several thousand new products every day, while orders are quickly sent to factories so that production can be adjusted to demand.

However, other major brands are not necessarily much more transparent. According to the information presented in the article, traceability remains very limited across the entire industry. It is therefore often difficult to accurately track every stage in the manufacturing process of a garment produced abroad.

Sandrine Zerbib points out that, despite the changes made in the industry since the Rana Plaza disaster, progress in terms of transparency remains limited.

Producing Less to Make Fashion More Responsible.

“Regulations are gradually seeking to improve the situation. In France, companies are notably required to provide more information about the origin of their products and certain stages of the manufacturing process.”

Some initiatives go even further by attempting to trace the entire production chain, from raw materials to the finished garment. However, improving traceability alone would not be enough to make the textile industry truly sustainable.

The volume of clothing produced remains a key issue. A more responsible fashion industry would therefore require not only better knowledge of where clothes come from, but also slower production, fewer products being placed on the market, and better working conditions.