Why France is ready to pull the plug on Shein
The Take
Al Jazeera
4.7 • 748 Ratings
🗓️ 12 November 2025
⏱️ 23 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Days after Shein opened its first location in Paris, France is threatening to ban the Chinese fast-fashion giant. The threat follows months of hand-wringing over Shein’s growing footprint in France, topped off by the discovery of child-like sex dolls and weapons from third-party sellers on its website. on its third-party online marketplace. With growing backlash, will the controversial company survive in Europe’s fashion capital?
In this episode:
- Claire Roussel (@claire_roussel), fashion journalist
Episode credits:
This episode was produced by Haleema Shah, Noor Wazwaz, Tracie Hunte, and Melanie Marich, with Sarí el-Khalili, Diana Ferrero, Fatima Shafiq, Farhan Rafid, Tamara Khandaker, and guest host, Natasha del Toro. It was edited by Alexandra Locke.
Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our video editors are Hisham Abu Salah and Mohannad Al-Melhem. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Al Jazeera Podcasts. |
| 0:07.0 | Today, Paris is divided over Chinese fast-fashioned giant Xi'in. |
| 0:17.0 | Parisians waiting hours to stroll through Sheen's first permanent store. |
| 0:21.1 | But its grand Paris opening was far from seamless. |
| 0:25.0 | Protesters crashing the event accusing the retailer of forced labor. |
| 0:29.5 | The French government threatened to ban the retailer as it set up shop in Paris. |
| 0:34.7 | What's behind the crackdown? |
| 0:41.1 | I'm Natasha D'Oro, and this is the take. |
| 0:53.6 | Before we continue with today's show, please don't forget to let us know what you think about this episode. Have you shopped on |
| 0:55.8 | Sheehan? And let us know what you think about the French government spotlight on the company. |
| 1:00.6 | And if you're listening on the podcast app, leave us a five-star review. It helps people find the show. |
| 1:10.6 | My name is Claire Rossell, and today I am talking to you from Paris. |
| 1:16.0 | I'm a French journalist, and I specialize in the impact of fashion. |
| 1:20.9 | Well, Claire, we're super excited to have you here to talk about this subject today. |
| 1:27.4 | So let's dive right in. France threatened to |
| 1:31.1 | block Sheen, this Chinese fast fashion retailer, just days after the store opened in Paris. |
| 1:37.8 | Yeah. Tell us exactly what happened. |
| 1:42.9 | France has been fighting Sheehan for various reasons. |
| 1:47.1 | Last week, Sheen had an opening of a store in a neighborhood called Le Maire, which is the |
| 1:51.9 | heart of Paris and the heart of Paris shopping center. |
| 1:55.5 | And on that same day, France announced that products that were sold by Sheen were unlawful regarding to French and European laws, |
| 2:04.6 | which included type A weapons and also dolls that had pornographic characteristics, |
... |
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