Shein and Forever 21, both leaders in the fast fashion world, are joining together to strengthen their presence in the retail industry. This partnership is advantageous for these Asian and American fashion giants as they compete against rivals like Uniqlo, Temu, and Zara. However, this collaboration will have negative consequences for the environment, which is already facing significant challenges.

On Thursday, the two companies announced their plan: Shein will acquire around one-third of Sparc Group, the company that manages Forever 21. Sparc Group is responsible for creating and distributing products for brands like Aéropostale, Nautica, Eddie Bauer, and Reebok. In return, Sparc Group will receive a minor ownership in Shein.

While Shein operates primarily online, Forever 21 is renowned for its physical retail stores. As part of this agreement, Shein will offer certain Forever 21 items on its website. This strategic move will grant Forever 21 access to Shein's massive online customer base, which amounts to 150 million users. This information comes from a report by the Wall Street Journal.

Shein, one of the leading players in the fast fashion market, aims to expand its presence by incorporating additional third-party brands like Forever 21. The intention is to develop a marketplace resembling Amazon, where a wide variety of products are available. Donald Tang, the Executive Vice Chairman of Shein, pointed out that they can't produce everything they sell, as stated in the Wall Street Journal.

Looking ahead, shoppers might have the opportunity to return Shein products in person at over 540 global Forever 21 stores. It's worth noting that none of these stores are located in East Asia. Additionally, there's a possibility that customers could purchase Shein products directly from Forever 21's physical stores, according to information provided by the Wall Street Journal.