Shein scales up deadstock fabric use

Shein has significantly increased its use of deadstock material, unused surplus fabric left over by other brands and manufacturers, in its collections. In 2024 alone, the brand incorporated over 28,000 metres of these reclaimed fabrics into its various styles, marking a 40% rise compared to the 19,000 metres used in the previous year.

This shift has had a notable environmental impact. By reusing deadstock instead of producing new fabrics, Shein has helped conserve more than 200,000 cubic metres of water, saved over 4,000 kilograms of chemicals, and avoided generating more than 42 metric tons of carbon emissions. These figures are calculated using Aloqia’s impact measurement algorithms, developed with support from data experts at MIT Solve.

“Our growing use of deadstock is a key part of our broader sustainable materials strategy,” said Mustan Lalani, Shein’s global head of sustainability. “We’re working to reduce dependency on newly produced materials by finding practical, scalable solutions that help lower waste.”

Since 2022, Shein has sourced more than 47,900 metres of deadstock fabrics through Aloqia’s platform, which helps businesses unlock the value of excess inventory. This partnership supports Shein’s shift toward a more circular production model.