Shein-BHV Partnership Sparks Massive Public Backlash and Financial Fallout for Parisian Department Store

A growing controversy has erupted in Paris following the announcement of a partnership between the large department store BHV and the Chinese fast fashion giant Shein. A petition entitled "Paris mérite mieux que Shein," launched by Arielle Levy, president of the collective "Une Autre Mode Est Possible," has rapidly garnered over 80,000 signatures demanding an end to Shein's presence at BHV. Levy condemned Shein's extensive environmental damage—highlighting the release of 10,000 new synthetic fiber-based products daily, which exacerbates textile pollution—and inhumane labor practices, including workers pressured to endure 15-hour shifts and a lack of supply chain transparency. Shein was previously fined 40 million euros in France for deceptive practices. The petition calls on the DGCCRF to investigate Shein immediately and urges BHV to terminate the partnership (Source 92342).

The backlash also triggered significant financial repercussions. Banque des territoires, initially poised as a key investor in the BHV acquisition led by Frédéric Merlin’s Société des grands magasins (SGM), withdrew from the €300 million deal plus €45 million for renovations. The bank cited what it described as a "breach of trust," learning of the Shein partnership via the media without prior consultation and implying political pressure influenced their decision. The partnership is set to launch in November at BHV and other Galeries Lafayette sites, but the loss of this major financier challenges the renovation and acquisition plans. SGM insists alternative partners are lined up to proceed (Source 92443).

This controversy marks a collision of consumer activism, ethical concerns in fashion, and high-stakes business dynamics in one of Paris’s iconic retail institutions. As public pressure mounts and financing falters, BHV’s future collaboration with Shein remains uncertain.