The French Federation of Women’s Ready-to-Wear has expressed its “profound indignation” at the recruitment of former ministers, including Christophe Castaner, by Asian fast-fashion giant Shein. This announcement came on the eve of the French Senate’s review of its “anti-ultra-fast fashion” legislation.

In a statement released on Monday, the federation called for “a massive mobilisation of industry stakeholders, citizens, French MPs and MEPs to counter this attempt to undermine the laws against ultra-fast fashion, and to advocate in favour of brands committed to virtuous social and environmental practices.”

The federation strongly criticised the involvement of former political figures, stating: “On the eve of the [French] Senate’s review of the laws against ultra-fast fashion, unanimously passed by the National Assembly on March 13, 2024, we strongly denounce the explicit or implicit support given to Shein by former political leaders.” 

“This alignment represents a clear attempt at greenwashing by a company that floods the market with low-quality clothing and engages in lobbying to hinder ongoing legislative efforts,” the federation added.

On December 6, Shein announced the creation of strategic advisory committees to support its corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives. 

The first three members appointed to the regional committee for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) all hail from France: former minister of the interior Christophe Castaner, former secretary of state for victims’ rights Nicole Guedj, and former president of the French insurance federation Bernard Spitz.

“The involvement of such public figures with a company whose environmental and social impacts are widely condemned sends an alarming signal at a time when concrete measures are needed to address the excesses of ultra-fast fashion,” the federation said.

Yann Rivoallan, president of the French Federation of Women’s Ready-to-Wear, stated in the press release: “We cannot allow companies like Shein to trample on the efforts of an entire industry to adopt responsible practices.”

“These shameful partnerships between politicians and a destructive corporate giant must not shape our shared future,” Rivoallan added.

In response, Shein highlighted its economic contribution, claiming to have added €1.1 billion to Europe’s GDP in 2023, while supporting 6,130 direct, indirect, and induced jobs. 

However, the federation countered by pointing out Shein’s disruptive impact on the French fashion industry, noting that the e-tailer has over 3 million daily users in France, and is projected to grow by 30% in 2024, “destroying thousands of jobs in the fashion sector in the process.”