According to the United Nations Environment program, fashion currently accounts for up to 10 per cent of global carbon dioxide output—more than international flights and shipping combined. Garment production has doubled since 2000, according to consulting firm McKinsey & Company and the World Economic Forum. The US is known to throw away around 70 pairs of trousers per person in waste every year. This is a result of the excess inventory produced by the country every year, adds a Bloomberg study.

Sheng Lu, Assistant Professor-Apparel Studies, University of Delaware says, fast fashion companies like Shein can curb fashion waste by adopting efficient production methods. Shein claims to produce minimal batches of clothes by adopting the “Just in Time” inventory method. According to the UN Alliance for Sustainable Fashion, fast fashion is also the second-biggest consumer of water and is responsible for 8-10 percent of global carbon emissions. Shein is one of the largest manufacturers of polyester-made clothing in the world; with 95.2 percent of its clothes containing new plastics.

However, Shein is not the only culprit. Almost every store in the mall and every brand are responsible for this. Fast fashion care little for the environmental and human costs of production, says Aja Barbar in his book Consumed. Consumers need to make more sustainable apparel choices to identify and express a truly personal and authentic style, he adds.