{"id":655,"date":"2026-05-22T08:12:54","date_gmt":"2026-05-22T15:12:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/b36a4852aca3677b427ae7b87c8fe845"},"modified":"2026-05-22T16:43:40","modified_gmt":"2026-05-22T16:43:40","slug":"chinese-fast-fashion-juggernaut-shein-to-buy-eco-friendly-everlane-in-an-unlikely-fit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newshouse.info\/?p=655","title":{"rendered":"Chinese fast-fashion juggernaut Shein to buy eco-friendly Everlane in an unlikely fit"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>NEW YORK (AP) \u2014 Everlane, the retailer that bucked the fast-fashion industry by promising affordable ethically sourced and sustainable clothing, is being acquired by the king of fast-fashion Shein, founded in China. <\/p>\n<p>A letter to Everlane employees from CEO Alfred Chang confirming the deal was obtained by The Associated Press on Friday. <\/p>\n<p>Everlane, based in San Francisco, didn\u2019t disclose a purchase price. Shein declined to comment. Everlane\u2019s majority owner L Catterton couldn\u2019t be immediately reached for comment.<\/p>\n<p>Everlane was founded in 2011 by Michael Preysman and Jesse Farmer with a mission to produce eco friendly and affordable clothing. The company publicized regular audits of its pay and working conditions, as well as the brand\u2019s environmental impact. The online retailer opened its first physical store in 2017. <\/p>\n<p>But the company in recent years has been embroiled in controversies surrounding treatment of its workers, according to media reports.<\/p>\n<p>Everlane, which was joined by other eco-friendly brands like Allbirds, also found that offering a more transparent look at its factories wasn\u2019t enough for consumers, according to independent retail analyst Bruce Winder. Winder said shoppers were also seeking more affordable prices, and \u201cthe novelty wore off.\u201d He cited <span class=\"LinkEnhancement\"><a class=\"Link AnClick-LinkEnhancement\" data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/allbirds-ai-finance-artificial-intelligence-wall-street-shoes-93a0d2991eba455676d64c6935a56531\">Allbirds<\/a><\/span>. After sales of the once highly popular shoe tumbled, it rebranded itself \u201cNewBird AI,\u201d and is now focused on artificial intelligence and cloud-computing services.<\/p>\n<div data-module data-module-trackunsubscribe class=\"PageListEnhancementGeneric Enhancement\" data-align-center>\n<div class=\"Enhancement-item\"> <bsp-list-loadmore data-module class=\"PageListStandardB \" data-gtm-region=\"Hub peek - default for articles - (can be moved in article, but don't change source)\" data-gtm-topic=\"No Value\" data-hide-dates=\"true\" data-parsely-title=\"Related Stories\" data-parsely-enabled=\"true\" data-is-hub-peek data-gtm-modulestyle=\"List B\"> <\/p>\n<div class=\"PageList-items\" data-list-loadmore-items>\n<div class=\"PageList-items-item\">\n<div class=\"PagePromo\" data-gtm-region=\"Allbirds, a former Wall Street darling fallen on hard times, looks to AI for its future\" data-gtm-topic=\"No Value\" data-align-top data-mobile-alt-layout=\"true\" data-hide-dates=\"true\" data-posted-date-timestamp=\"1776282294000\" data-updated-date-timestamp=\"1776290683000\">\n<div class=\"PagePromo-media PagePromo-media--backgroundSecondary\" data-animate=\"fromBottom\"><a class=\"Link\" aria-label=\"Allbirds, a former Wall Street darling fallen on hard times, looks to AI for its future\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/allbirds-ai-finance-artificial-intelligence-wall-street-shoes-93a0d2991eba455676d64c6935a56531\"> <picture data-crop=\"medium-nocrop\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px)\" type=\"image\/webp\" width=\"1440\" height=\"1042\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dims.apnews.com\/dims4\/default\/38d51b7\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/3500x2533+0+0\/resize\/1440x1042!\/format\/webp\/quality\/90\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.apnews.com%2Fbf%2Ff3%2F09f7236b2937d48c131f2a6d8e18%2Ffe9deaf7a7524ffca3fe02d62c57f68c 1x, 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srcset=\"https:\/\/dims.apnews.com\/dims4\/default\/e4523ac\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/3500x2533+0+0\/resize\/767x555!\/quality\/90\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.apnews.com%2Fbf%2Ff3%2F09f7236b2937d48c131f2a6d8e18%2Ffe9deaf7a7524ffca3fe02d62c57f68c 1x, https:\/\/dims.apnews.com\/dims4\/default\/c0de2b9\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/3500x2533+0+0\/resize\/1534x1110!\/quality\/90\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.apnews.com%2Fbf%2Ff3%2F09f7236b2937d48c131f2a6d8e18%2Ffe9deaf7a7524ffca3fe02d62c57f68c 2x\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" width=\"599\" height=\"434\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dims.apnews.com\/dims4\/default\/0cfe1e1\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/3500x2533+0+0\/resize\/599x434!\/format\/webp\/quality\/90\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.apnews.com%2Fbf%2Ff3%2F09f7236b2937d48c131f2a6d8e18%2Ffe9deaf7a7524ffca3fe02d62c57f68c 1x, https:\/\/dims.apnews.com\/dims4\/default\/fd62cfb\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/3500x2533+0+0\/resize\/1198x868!\/format\/webp\/quality\/90\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.apnews.com%2Fbf%2Ff3%2F09f7236b2937d48c131f2a6d8e18%2Ffe9deaf7a7524ffca3fe02d62c57f68c 2x\"><source width=\"599\" height=\"434\" srcset=\"https:\/\/newshouse.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/chinese-fast-fashion-juggernaut-shein-to-buy-eco-friendly-everlane-in-an-unlikely-fit.jpg 1x, https:\/\/newshouse.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/chinese-fast-fashion-juggernaut-shein-to-buy-eco-friendly-everlane-in-an-unlikely-fit-1.jpg 2x\"><img class=\"Image\" alt=\"In this July 21, 2018, file photo Allbirds co-founder Tim Brown speaks at OZY Fest in Central Park in New York. Online shoe brand Allbirds plans to more than double its store count next year, hoping to reach shoppers who want to touch and try on their wool shoes. (Photo by Evan Agostini\/Invision\/AP, File)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/newshouse.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/chinese-fast-fashion-juggernaut-shein-to-buy-eco-friendly-everlane-in-an-unlikely-fit.jpg 1x, https:\/\/newshouse.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/chinese-fast-fashion-juggernaut-shein-to-buy-eco-friendly-everlane-in-an-unlikely-fit-1.jpg 2x\" width=\"599\" height=\"434\" src=\"https:\/\/newshouse.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/chinese-fast-fashion-juggernaut-shein-to-buy-eco-friendly-everlane-in-an-unlikely-fit.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\">\n<\/picture> <\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"PagePromo-content\" data-animate=\"fromBottom\"> <bsp-custom-headline custom-headline=\"div\"> <\/bsp-custom-headline> <\/p>\n<div class=\"PagePromo-byline-container\">\n<p> <span class=\"ReadingTime-template\">3 MIN READ<\/span> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> <\/bsp-list-loadmore> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>L Catterton began acquiring significant stakes in Everlane in September 2020. becoming its majority owner. It also owns a significant stake in brands Boll &amp; Branch, Etro and Birkenstock.<\/p>\n<p>Preysman officially stepped down in 2022.<\/p>\n<p>The online retailer Shein was founded in China in 2012 and become extremely popular with teens and young shoppers with $15 trendy dresses and sandals, A majority of items are mass produced and stitched together by workers in a web of factories in China. It has moved its headquarters in Singapore.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cLike many brands, we\u2019ve faced increasing pressure in a rapidly changing retail landscape,\u201d Chang wrote in the letter. \u201cThis partnership allows us to remain independent, and gives us the stability and resources to make a larger impact, without compromising on the quality and standards that make Everlane, Everlane.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Chang, who became CEO in 2024, wrote that the deal will enable the business to invest more in its product, innovation and staff. He emphasized that Everlane will remain an independent brand, staying true to its \u201csustainability\u201d commitments.<\/p>\n<p>Chang said he will continue as CEO and its leadership will remain in place.<\/p>\n<p>The takeover bid arrives at a time when Everlane is struggling. Sales are down and debt has mounted, according to Neil Saunders, managing director of GlobalData Retail. The company needs new ownership to survive, and Shein can provide that financial stability, he said.<\/p>\n<p>Shein can establish a presence outside of fast fashion through Everlane, Saunders said, as growth within the industry becomes more difficult. Tariffs and other trade restrictions under the Trump administration have upended imports of the inexpensive clothing that dominates fast fashion. <\/p>\n<p>Winder noted that Shein also has an opportunity to redefine its brand by creating a portfolio of eco-friendly brands like Everlane. <\/p>\n<p>But Everlane and Shein are an odd couple, analysts noted.<\/p>\n<p>Shein is unlikely to completely retool Everlane\u2019s supply network, Saunders said, but even being associated with the Shein group may be \u201csomewhat jarring for core Everlane customers. \u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cUltimately, the deal likely saves Everlane,\u201d he said. \u201cBut that salvation comes at a price.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Chang seemed to allude in his memo to some of the negative responses on social media when rumors of the deal were swirling, stating that the \u201cpast week has been a hard one. Seeing our company in the media, and in that light, was painful.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>NEW YORK (AP) \u2014 Everlane, the retailer that bucked the fast-fashion industry by promising affordable ethically sourced and sustainable clothing, is being acquired by the &hellip; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":656,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[5,1,8],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newshouse.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/655"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newshouse.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newshouse.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newshouse.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newshouse.info\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=655"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/newshouse.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/655\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":681,"href":"https:\/\/newshouse.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/655\/revisions\/681"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newshouse.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/656"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newshouse.info\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=655"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newshouse.info\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=655"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newshouse.info\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=655"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}