Shein hires foul-mouthed ex-EU budget chief
- Shein appointed former EU Budget Commissioner Gunther Oettinger as an advisor
Controversial: Former EU Budget Commissioner Gunther Oettinger
Shein has hired a controversial lobbyist who once described the Chinese as “slanty-eyed.”
The Chinese fast fashion giant has appointed former EU Budget Commissioner Gunther Oettinger as an adviser to help with European Union policy.
The German political heavyweight came under fire in 2016 after making comments about Chinese businessmen to other industry leaders.
He later apologized for using the phrase “Schlitzaugen,” which means “slanty eyes.” He also came under fire for describing the group as “nine men, one party, and no democracy.”
He has also joked that policymakers would soon introduce a law for “compulsory gay marriage” in Germany. And in 2016, he said he would “shoot” himself if he were married to Frauke Petry, the female leader of the right-wing Alternative for Germany party.
Shein is a Chinese company, but is now based in Singapore. It has faced criticism over its supply chains, which it uses to produce ultra-cheap clothing for a Gen-Z customer base.
Oettinger said at the time of his remarks: “I now see that the words I used created bad feelings and may even have hurt people. This was not my intention and I would like to apologize.”
Scrutiny has increased over Shein ahead of a potential £50bn IPO on the London Stock Exchange. The EU is toughening its stance on fast fashion, with rules aimed at tackling wasteful clothing.
Officials claim the textile sector is one of the least sustainable industries, with cheap clothes “designed to be thrown away” and companies like Shein encouraging “unnecessary overconsumption”.
So Oettinger – who was European Commissioner for Budget from 2017 to 2019 – faces an uphill battle defending Shein’s interests. Founded in 2012, Shein has seen an explosion in popularity – thanks to budget-conscious younger shoppers in more than 150 countries.
The company has gone to great lengths to win over the city, insisting that strict audits be carried out on suppliers to ensure workers are treated well and sustainable materials are used.
But last week, Shein admitted an audit had uncovered two instances of child labor in its supply chain. It said the suppliers involved had been temporarily suspended.
Retail guru and ‘Queen of Shops’ Mary Portas and Stuart Trevor, co-founder of fashion brand All Saints, are among the big names calling for a IPO to be blocked.
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