Fast fashion giant Shein is partnering with China-based textile chemical company Transfar Chemicals to develop and accelerate commercialization of new dyeing and finishing processes for textiles.
The alliance will focus on three key areas, the first of which being the digitalization of dyeing and textile finishing processes to reduce energy consumption, water usage and carbon emissions. The companies will also work together to develop new functional fabrics and garments with stretch fabrics and water-repellent materials. Shein and Transfar aim to develop testing methods for new materials and garments to help ensure consistency in assessing safety, quality and performance.
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As part of the partnership, Singapore-based Shein also plans to encourage industrial collaborations between Transfar Chemicals and regional textile and dyeing enterprises.
Like many other fast fashion brands, Shein has come under significant criticism in recent years for its contribution to the global issue of textile waste and the environmental impacts of producing garments on a scale necessary to add thousands of new items to its inventory each day. In an attempt to quell some of that outrage, the company has launched several initiatives such as this partnership, aimed at reducing environmental impact.
Earlier this year, Shein partnered with Donghua University to develop a new polyester recycling process that accepts a wider range of materials, including textile waste and PET bottles. According to Shein, the process will be more cost-efficient than recycled polyester currently used in the company’s garments, and initial tests showed fabrics recycled through this process could be repeatedly recycled without impacting material properties. Shein is currently working with the university to scale up the technology from the lab to facilities capable of producing recycled polyester fibers commercially.
In January, Shein announced it would start using NTX Cooltrans printing technology to print denim, which the company said reduces water usage by 70.5 percent and eliminates the need for workers to come in contact with harmful chemicals.
The e-tailer has a long way to go. Shein ranked among the worst offenders among nonprofit Stand.earth’s Clean Energy Close-up last year, only earning 2.5 out of 100 points for its progress on reducing manufacturing emissions.
“This partnership will leverage on both Shein and Transfar Chemicals’ complementary strengths in textile fabric technology and product resources,” the company said in a statement. “Shein will be able to leverage its digitalized supply chain platform to monitor demand for premium fabrics and new production technologies. Meanwhile, Transfar Chemicals can draw on its expertise in functional chemistry to support the promotion and development of innovative processes, materials, and textile production and dyeing methods that are aimed at reducing water, energy and waste.”