UK: Shein's general counsel declines to answer MPs' questions on Xinjiang cotton sourcing amid London listing plans
”Shein lawyer refuses to say if it uses Chinese cotton“ 7 January 2025
Yinan Zhu, general counsel for the fast-fashion giant Shein, confirmed its suppliers did manufacture products in the country, but declined to say whether they used Chinese cotton.
Firms that source clothing, cotton, and other products from the Xinjiang region in the north west of China in particular have come under pressure following allegations of forced labour and human rights abuses...
On Tuesday, MPs on the Business and Trade committee repeatedly challenged Ms Zhu over whether Shein products contained Chinese cotton and in particular cotton from Xinjiang. Ms Zhu declined to answer and asked if she could write to the committee following the hearing...
Challenged on whether the company specifically prohibits its suppliers from sourcing cotton from Xinjiang as part of its checklist of conditions, she said: "I'm going to have to ask for permission to write back to this."
The hearing came after the BBC reported the company had filed initial paperwork to list shares on the London Stock Exchange, which could value it at £50bn. Ms Zhu refused to provide answers on the potential listing...
Liam Byrne, chair of the committee, said for a company that sells £1bn worth of goods to consumers, and was looking to list in the UK, the committee had been "pretty horrified by the lack of evidence" Ms Zhu had provided...