Fashion giant Shein doesn't comment on whether it uses cotton from China

A senior lawyer representing Shein has repeatedly refused to say whether the company sells products containing cotton from China, the BBC reported.

Yinan Zhu, the fast fashion giant's general counsel, confirmed that its suppliers make products in the country but declined to say whether they use Chinese cotton.

Companies that source clothing, cotton and other products from the Xinjiang region in northwest China have come under pressure following allegations of forced labour and human rights abuses.

Zhu's refusal to answer questions was met with a backlash from a committee of British MPs who accused her of "wilful ignorance".

Since its founding in 2008, Shein has grown rapidly, and during the pandemic its business has flourished.

The company's meteoric rise has meant it has gone from a little-known brand to one of the world's biggest fast-fashion retailers, delivering to customers in 150 countries.

The company, which was founded in China but is now headquartered in Singapore, has come under criticism for its environmental impact and labour practices, which include allegations of forced labour in supply chains. Shein denies this.

China has been accused of subjecting members of the Uighur, a predominantly Muslim ethnic minority, to forced labour. In December 2020, a survey seen by the BBC showed that up to half a million people were being forced to pick cotton in Xinjiang, but Beijing denies any rights abuses.

The accusations have prompted some major fashion brands, including H&M, Nike, Burberry and Adidas, to remove products using cotton from Xinjiang, leading to a backlash in China and a boycott of the companies. | BGNES