Shein just lit a firestorm in Paris. The fast-fashion giant is opening its first permanent store on the sixth floor of BHV Marais, a historic department store facing Paris City Hall. This isn’t just any old retail spot. It is a sacred ground in French commerce. Open since 1856, BHV is a symbol of traditional Parisian shopping and culture.
The fashion giant’s move is part of a broader plan to test physical stores across France, with additional openings planned inside Galeries Lafayette in cities such as Dijon, Reims, and Limoges. However, even before the doors opened, backlash had already erupted.
Political Condemnation Comes Swift
Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo didn’t mince words. She called the brand’s arrival “a betrayal of Paris’ values.” City officials are furious, saying Shein’s presence contradicts policies designed to protect small, independent shops and support locally made products.
France’s Minister for Small Businesses chimed in too. He said letting Shein set up shop in a national landmark sends a “bad signal” that should be shut down. The message from the government is clear: Shein doesn’t belong in the heart of Paris.
E News / French fashion labels like Odaje and Aime yanked their products from BHV, refusing to share shelf space with Shein.
Disneyland Paris also withdrew from its Christmas pop-up plan at BHV. The brand said the environment was no longer “right” for its events. Even a major French state-owned bank walked away from a deal to buy the BHV building. Shein’s presence turned the property toxic.
Workers and Citizens Say No
Public anger spilled into the streets. Over 100,000 people signed a petition to stop the store from opening. Protests followed, and BHV workers went on strike. Demonstrators chanted outside the building, accusing the company of harming local businesses and values.
Shein’s store became the symbol of everything people hate about ultra-fast fashion: cheap clothes, bad labor conditions, and the foreign takeover of cultural spaces.
A few days before the grand opening, France’s consumer watchdog dropped a bombshell: Shein had been selling sex dolls that looked like children.
The DGCCRF called the dolls “paedophilic in nature.” The reaction was immediate and brutal. France’s Economy Minister said if this happens again, Shein could be kicked out of the country altogether. He said the government would use laws normally applied to terrorism or child porn to make it happen.
Public Rage Explodes
A child-protection group, Mouv’Enfants, led a protest outside BHV. Their co-founder accused Shein of helping “enable sex crimes against children.” The message was clear: Selling these kinds of products crosses a moral line that France will not tolerate.
GTN / The Paris prosecutor’s office opened a criminal investigation. Shein tried to contain the damage by banning all sex-doll-type products from its platform and removing the listings.
Executive chairman Donald Tang apologized and said the company is investigating internally. But for many, the damage is done.
France sees Shein as everything that is wrong with global retail. In a country that prides itself on fine fashion, tradition, and sustainability, Shein feels like an invasion.
French designers spend years perfecting garments. Shein pushes out thousands of styles a week, most of them cheap and disposable. Critics say the company encourages waste and treats workers poorly. And French shoppers are noticing.
Reports have exposed some ugly truths about Shein’s supply chain. A 2024 investigation by Public Eye found workers at some factories clocking up to 75 hours per week. Critics say this breaks labor laws and basic human decency.
