Shein in Dijon: What Are We Talking About?
If you’re under 25, you probably already know Shein, that giant of fast fashion made in China. For others, just imagine a platform offering thousands of clothing and accessories at unbeatable prices, delivered with a click, and refreshed almost every day. The result? Millions of young people are dressing "trendy" for cheap, but at the cost of a huge environmental and social impact.
Until now, only online, Shein is now ramping up partnerships to open physical corners in France. And guess what? Dijon is in the mix: a Shein space is set to open at Galeries Lafayette.
Galeries Lafayette vs Société des Grands Magasins
Little hiccup: the Galeries Lafayette Group is firmly opposing.
to this project. Problem? It's not him who operates these stores in the provinces, but the Société des Grands Magasins (SGM).In a communiqué, the Parisian group explained their “deep disagreement”, denouncing a brand that is “in total contradiction with [their] values” and even a breach of the contracts binding them to the SGM (source: France 3 Régions).
Alexandre Liot, Deputy General Director of Galeries Lafayette, confirmed it: “It is not the commercial policy of Galeries Lafayette to have an ultra fast fashion brand in our stores.”
On their side, the SGM stands firm: this partnership is, according to them, perfectly in line with the contractual conditions. And dialogue would continue to “clear up the misunderstanding.” Atmosphere.
And us, people of Dijon, what do we think about it?
Let’s be honest: between two rain showers, we weren’t expecting to see… Shein arrive. While Dijon is establishing itself as a city of creators, artisans, and great local deals, the arrival of a brand associated with overconsumption raises some questions.
Should we celebrate it because it will bring attention to the city and attract more traffic to Galeries Lafayette? Or should we be concerned because this brand represents fast fashion that has a heavy impact on the planet?
In the meantime, get your umbrellas ready: between the rain and fast fashion, Dijon isn’t done getting wet!