Temu or Shein could be hazardous to your health, especially if you’re Black: The story argues that ultra-cheap fast fashion may expose shoppers to harmful chemicals, while Black consumers—who are heavily targeted by trend-driven retail and influencer culture—could face disproportionate health risks from repeated exposure.1
Fast-growing e-retailers Shein and Temu offer the latest fashions at impossibly low prices. But research shows Black consumers may be paying a price for looking good.
Shein and Temu are the fastest-growing retail apps in the U.S. — including among Black consumers. But wearing the clothing comes with a health risk. Credit: Getty Images
Overview:
To keep costs low, fast-fashion brands make their goods using cheap synthetic material produced with high amounts of toxic chemicals, including lead and phthalates.
Every day, hundreds of social media fashion influencers inundate TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube with videos showing off eye-popping hauls from Temu, Shein, and other low-priced, fast-fashion brands. They film themselves ripping open packages crammed with skirts, shirts, and outfits — often sent free of charge — then model the goods for the camera, enticing other people to buy.
The most popular videos can attract hundreds of thousands of eyeballs; one fashion review alone can garner upwards of 100,000 likes, which can translate into major sales for the brands. For the Asian-based retailers of $10 blouses and $15 jeans, hungry to conquer the U.S. market, the posts are advertising gold.
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But there’s ample evidence that those trendy, unbelievably-priced fashions come with a hidden price: potentially lethal chemicals clinging to your skin.
TikToker @PaulsLaw wants you to know about it — and calls out Temu and Shein, two of the hottest online retailers, as brands to avoid.
“Your skin is your largest organ, and it eats everything you put on it!” warns @PaulsLAW.
He’s not wrong: scientists and public health experts are sounding the alarm about synthetic fabrics and chemical-based products commonly used in the fast-fashion industry. They say cheap clothing and goods are a fast-growing source of illness, from rashes and migraine headaches to breast and prostate cancer.
Temu #Shein #ConsumerHealth
