“Shein is a pillar of the fashion industry,” said Guo Qing E, a Shein supplier.
“I started when Shein started. I witnessed its rise. To be honest, Shein is an awesome company in China. I think it will become stronger, because it pays on time. This is where it is most trustworthy.
“If payment for our goods is due on the 15th, no matter whether it’s millions or tens of millions, the money will be paid on time.”
Shein, with its gruelling hours and sometimes lower wages, may not be a source of comfort to all its workers. But it is a source of pride for some.
“This is the contribution we Chinese people can make to the world,” said a 33- year-old supervisor from Guangdong, who didn’t want to give her name.
It’s dark outside and workers are filing back into factories after their dinner for the final stretch. She admits the hours are long, but “we get on well with each other. We are like a family”.
Hours later, after many workers head home for the night, the lights in several buildings stay on.
Some people work until midnight, one factory owner told us. They want to earn more money, he said.
After all, in London, Chicago, Singapore, Dubai and so many other places, someone is hunting for their next bargain.