Summer is right around the corner, which means seasonal shopping sprees begin! Shein is a fashion company based in China that sells clothing and accessories mostly under $15. The bikinis they sell are typically the hot items on the market because of their affordability. On the other hand, other bathing suit brands such as Triangle, Kuhlani Kinis, and Pilly Q are prime examples of companies selling two small pieces of cloth for $100 each. 

High school students typically can not invest in seasonal apparel for the price that companies are retailing their bathing suits. 

This raises the question for a consumer: who needs bikinis in the summer? Are they going to spend hundreds of dollars on two pieces of cloth that barely cover their body, or buy bikinis that are cheap and affordable at the cost of child labor and other unethical standards? 

Many students at NVD are experiencing this issue. Junior, Phoebe Terner also struggles to find good quality bathing suits for a reasonable price. 

“Shein is so popular because of how affordable their bathing suits are, but once people began exposing the brand for child labor I don’t know what I should do,” Terner said. 

According to CBS News, Shein is facing ethical issues due to forced labor, which explains why their pricing is so cheap. “Shein’s mounting ethical concerns may be pushing some Gen Z shoppers to look elsewhere” CBS News said. Shein can keep labor and production costs low because they manufacture in China, which has various global shipping networks. This allows them to deliver their orders to customers all over the world, which in return, makes them more money.  

“For teenagers, it’s hard to stop shopping from affordable brands like Shein even though how terrible they are. Everyone needs to collectively stop shopping there and start discovering affordable bikini brands,” Terner said. 

Junior, Sophia Pulver also struggles to purchase bathing suits as summer arrives. 

“It’s difficult not to look at Shein bikinis when they’re so affordable and cute. I’m a teenage girl, I can’t be spending hundreds of dollars on swimwear,” Pulver said. 

Bathing suits are not worn daily, especially for NVD students who live on the East Coast. There are barely three months of warm weather not including vacations they may take during the school year. 

“Brands need to start selling their bathing suits at a more reasonable price because it just isn’t fair for consumers, especially teens. This would also lean consumers to stop shopping from Shein if there were other alternatives,” Pulver said.