The popular Chinese fast fashion chain, which was declared the most sought-after brand in the world last year – Shein has found itself (again) at the heart of a scandal. Unlike previous accusations of stealing designs from young, unestablished talents, this time they stepped on the toes of the big players and sold copies of the famous Air Jordan sneakers. According to TMZ Sports, Shein decided to withdraw the fake Air Jordan 11 sneakers and other copies of iconic retro models after a barrage of criticism on social media. The replicas of Air Jordan 11, specifically, were sold for $49.99 with the description ‘professional basketball shoes for men’.
Stolen Designers
This truly faithful copy differed from the original only in that it did not have the Jordan brand logo – ‘Jumpman’. When sneaker enthusiasts learned about the fake Jordans, they decided to ‘crucify’ Shein on social media platforms, especially Twitter, where they expressed their disdain for the fast-fashion company. A Shein spokesperson told TMZ that the company takes copyright infringement claims seriously, which is why they removed the disputed products from the shopping site.
They also blamed sellers who do not adhere to Shein Marketplace rules for the oversight or copying. In addition to the fake Jordans, it was revealed that Shein also sells copies of Yeezy Slides, Foam Runners, Balenciaga shoes, and even unusual rubber boots from the brand MSCHF Big Red Boots.
Although Shein has removed the disputed products, the fact remains that it continues to sell copies of designer clothing, but since the majority of the stolen designers fall into the category of small and/or unestablished ones who do not have the financial power or brand strength of a Nike or Yeezy to oppose this unethical practice of Shein.
