London mayor urged to ban Shein ads on TfL network

The Green Party's Caroline Russell has called for an "immediate ban" on Shein ads on Transport for London's services

Sir Sadiq Khan has been urged to ban all advertising from fast-fashion giant Shein on Transport for London's (TfL) network, amid concerns over the firm's human rights record.

The retailer, founded in China but now headquartered in Singapore, has been criticised over its environmental impact and working practices, which include allegations of forced labour in supply chains.

Shein denies this, saying it "strictly prohibits forced labour in its supply chain globally".

The mayor's office referred the BBC to TfL, which said it would issue a response to London Assembly Green group leader Caroline Russell, who says TfL's acceptance of advertising revenue puts "profits before human rights and dignity".

The assembly member's concerns were raised in the same week that the campaign group Stop Uyghur Genocide launched a judicial review to prevent Shein's Initial Public Offering (IPO) listing on the London Stock Exchange.

"As you will be aware, Shein was one of the companies questioned on labour standards in their supply chain by parliament's business and trade committee in early January," Russell told Sir Sadiq in a letter released on Thursday.

She said Shein representatives failed to answer the committee's question over the use of cotton sourced from China's Xinjiang region "which is notorious for the forced labour of the minority Muslim Uyghur people".

Russell added they "also refused to answer questions on Shein supply chains or labour standards, something the committee condemned as 'wilful ignorance'".

In written evidence to MPs, Shein later said it only allowed cotton from approved regions, which did not include China, for its products sold in the US, its biggest market, in order to comply with American laws on products made in Xinjiang.

However, Shein did not specify whether its restrictions on cotton sources applied to products sold in other markets, such as the UK.

The retailer did not prohibit the use of Chinese cotton in its products where such use would not breach relevant laws and regulations, it said.

In 2024, Shein also admitted it had found two cases of child labour in its supply chain in the previous year and temporarily suspended orders from the suppliers involved until they had stepped up efforts to tackle the issue.

'Immediate ban'

Russell told the mayor: "Shein should not be allowed to advertise on the TfL network, when there are serious – and public – questions being raised about such appalling human rights abuses in connection with its working practices."

She said she was "shocked" the adverts were allowed and questioned TfL's ethical safeguards when accepting ad campaigns.

The Green Party politician also called for the "immediate ban" on the grounds that the brand "encourages throwaway culture and ultimately ends up as landfill".

A TfL spokesperson said any copy submitted for its network was reviewed "on a case by case basis" to ensure it complied with its advertising policy, the Committee of Advertising Practice code and Advertising Standards Authority guidance.

A Shein spokeswoman said the company took "supply chain risks extremely seriously and strictly prohibits forced labour in its supply chain globally" and complied with all UK laws and regulations.

They added there was a "common misperception that affordable prices must mean low quality" and its efficiency allowed it to offer "high quality products at a lower cost".