Shein partners to develop sustainable textile dyeing and finishing
A popular low-cost shopping app is expanding its efforts to help create a responsible supply chain.
Chinese-founded and Singapore-based global on-demand fashion app Shein is collaborating with functional chemistry and new materials technology company Transfar Chemicals to pursue advances in textile dyeing and finishing technologies.
Through this joint effort, both companies aim to accelerate the commercialization and application of scientific advancements of textile production and dyeing processes.
The collaboration will focus on initiatives in three key areas:
- Digitalization of dyeing and textile finishing processes that reduce energy consumption, water usage, and carbon emissions.
- The development of new functional fabrics and garments that meet the needs of modern consumers. Examples of functional fabrics include stretch fabric and water-repellent material.
- The development of testing methods for new textile materials, garment products, and processes that help ensure consistency in testing for safety, quality and performance.
This partnership will leverage Shein’s digitalized supply chain platform to monitor demand for premium fabrics and new production technologies. Transfar Chemicals will support the promotion and development of processes, materials, and textile production and dyeing methods that are aimed at reducing water, energy and waste.
Shein will also support industrial collaborations between Transfar Chemicals and regional textile and dyeing enterprises in order to support the commercialization of Transfar Chemicals's research.
Shein focuses on product testing, polyester recycling, denim printing
In other responsible and sustainable supply chain activities, Shein recently built and implemented a multi-faceted product safety protocol designed to help ensure product compliance with applicable laws and regulations, as well as the company’s own product safety standards.
In 2025, Shein plans to invest more than $15 million into the system, which spans before, during and after the sale process.
The company has also developed a polyester recycling process that accepts a wider range of feedstock materials, including both pre- and post-consumer textile waste and PET bottles. Developed in partnership with Donghua University in Shanghai, this technology is also designed to improves the cost efficiency of recycled polyester.
Shein is working with selected fiber manufacturers to scale up production, with the first facility set to begin large-scale operations in June 2025, targeting an annual production output of 3,000 metric tons of recycled polyester fibers.
Other notable corporate responsibility efforts from Shein include increasing its adoption of cool transfer denim printing, a technology that consumes less water and energy compared to traditional denim manufacturing methods while simplifying the production process.
[READ MORE: Shein saves water with digital denim printing]
