Social Media Users Aren't Pleased to Hear That Monse Is Collaborating With Shein

On Wednesday, Monse, the New York-based fashion label co-designed by Laura Kim and Fernando Garcia (who are also co-creative directors at Oscar de la Renta), announced an "accessible" collaboration with fast fashion e-retailer Shein. Social media users were quick to react to the news, and in many cases voice their surprise, disappointment and frustration that the label would partner with a company known for dubious ethical and environmental practices.

"We're thrilled to reveal our exclusive Shein x Monse collection, where luxury meets accessibility and impact...Monse was founded on the principle of deconstructing menswear for women, empowering them in the workspace, and we are excited to continue this initiative," read Monse's Instagram caption unveiling the partnership. The co-branded collection, it revealed, would retail at a fast-fashion price point, between $1.70 and $64.39.

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Though the brand promptly turned off comments on the post, users took their opinions to other comment sections.

Kelsey Randall, a New York City-based fashion designer, posted on a previous post from the brand, writing, "I always really loved your brand and treasure the few pieces I own but am so bummed out to see y'all partnering with Shein.... You know it's bad when you have the comments turned off for your celebratory launch post!!!"

Another Instagram user commented, "Announce a Shein collaboration and then turn off comments. Try to be a bit less transparent [about] how much of a sell-out this collaboration is."

Commenters on X (previously known as Twitter) expressed similar sentiments in reaction to the news, writing "I genuinely thought it was a joke," and "This is actually terrible."

Shein's controversies are far-reaching: In addition to reports about unfair labor conditions for those working in Shein factories, the company also draws regular criticism for its environmental impact. In May, it was reported that the fast fashion retailer increased its absolute carbon emissions by almost 50% within a year, emitting more pollution than the entire country of Paraguay. It's also come under fire repeatedly for allegedly copying the work of independent designers.

A component of the Monse x Shein collaboration is a partnership with non-profit Dress for Success, a New York City organization that makes professional clothing accessible to women in need navigating the workplace. But this hasn't eased the concerns of online critics. Randall specifically called this out in a comment, writing: "Donating some of the clothes to Dress for Success hardly makes up for the fact that these clothes were sewn in sweatshops with zero oversight for labor conditions and safety."

The partnership as a whole seems to be at odds with many of Monse's previous brand pillars. The label, for example, dedicated its entire Spring 2021 collection to the concept of sustainability, making it out of unused fabrics from previous seasons in an effort to minimize waste and shine a light on the environmental impact of the fashion industry. Considering Shein releases more than 1,000 new items on its website every day, there seems to be a clear disconnect that may be difficult for Monse's community to reconcile.

Representatives from Monse did not immediately respond to Fashionista's request for a comment.

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