France strikes to droop Shein web site because it opens first retailer in Paris

Osmond Chia,Enterprise reporter and

Paul Kirby,Europe digital editor

Whereas the BHV division retailer celebrated the opening of Shein, there have been protests outdoors

DIMITAR DILKOFF/POOL/AFP The director of the Bazar de l'Hotel de Ville (BHV) department store Karl-Stephane Cottendin prepares to cut the ribbon at the opening of Asian e-commerce giant Shein's first physical store at the BHV department store in Paris on November 5, 2025 — Whereas the BHV division retailer celebrated the opening of Shein, there have been protests outdoors

The French authorities says it’s initiating proceedings to droop the net platform of Asian on-line large Shein, after prosecutors stated they had been investigating the corporate over childlike intercourse dolls discovered on its web site.

The financial system ministry in Paris stated the proceedings would final for “so long as essential for the platform to show to authorities that every one of its content material is lastly in compliance with our legal guidelines and laws”.

The federal government’s transfer was introduced little greater than an hour after Shein opened its first bodily retailer on this planet, on the sixth ground of Paris division retailer BHV.

Consumers queued to get into the shop, whereas protesters screamed “Disgrace!” at them.

Shein has promised to co-operate absolutely with Paris prosecutors who’re additionally investigating three different platforms – Temu, AliExpress and Want. Allegations surrounding the sale of childlike intercourse dolls on Shein first got here to mild from France’s anti-fraud workplace on the weekend.

BHV’s resolution to accommodate the fast-fashion large has angered rival clothes manufacturers and a quantity have stated they’ll go away the distinguished division retailer in protest.

Protests in opposition to the opening continued inside the shop, and one individual let off a foul-smelling spray.

Protesters held up placards outdoors the BHV retailer and shouted “Disgrace!” at customers

NurPhoto via Getty Images A woman holds a placard that reads ''Protect children, not Shein'' as people protest in front of the BHV department store in Paris, France, on November 5, 2025, on the opening day of Asian e-commerce giant Shein's first physical store at the Bazar de l'Hotel de Ville (BHV) department store — Protesters held up placards outdoors the BHV retailer and shouted “Disgrace!” at customers

Shein has turn into finest recognized for its discounted and classy garments, however has drawn criticism over its environmental influence and dealing circumstances.

Dressmaker Agnès B stated earlier she would shut her concession in BHV when her contract led to January.

“I am utterly in opposition to this fast-fashion… there are jobs underneath risk, it’s totally unhealthy,” she informed French radio.

Shein spokesman Quentin Ruffat earlier promised to supply data on sellers, consumers and merchandise concerned in promoting the childlike intercourse dolls on its web site.

AliExpress informed the BBC it took the matter very significantly.

Temu stated it was not concerned within the case and didn’t enable the sale of such gadgets on its platform, though it informed the BBC it was working with French authorities “to strengthen our minor safety mechanism”. Want has additionally been contacted for remark.

Frédéric Merlin, whose SGM firm runs BHV, has admitted that he thought of ending the division retailer’s partnership with the retailer.

Nevertheless, he stated Shein’s response had “satisfied me to proceed” and he expressed confidence within the merchandise it was going to promote in his retailer. “The garments we will promote don’t exploit staff or youngsters,” he informed French radio.

Shein, which was based in China, can be set to open shops in seven different cities, inside Galeries Lafayette malls run by SGM. However Galeries Lafayette has refused to have something to do with Shein and can withdraw its title from the shops in Angers, Dijon, Grenoble, Le Mans, Limoges, Orléans and Reims.

The Paris prosecutor’s workplace stated Shein and the opposite three e-commerce platforms had been being investigated over violent, pornographic or “undignified messages” that might be accessed by minors.

Shein and AliExpress are additionally underneath investigation over the dissemination of content material associated to youngsters which might be of a pornographic nature, the prosecutor’s workplace stated.

The circumstances have been referred to the Paris Workplace des Mineurs, the prosecution service added. The workplace is an arm of the French police power that oversees the safety of minors.

AliExpress stated the listings in query violated its insurance policies and had been eliminated as soon as it grew to become conscious of them.

“Sellers discovered to violate or making an attempt to avoid these necessities shall be penalised in accordance with our guidelines,” AliExpress stated in a press release.

On Monday, Shein stated it had banned the sale of all intercourse dolls on its platform worldwide. The Singapore-based retailer additionally stated that it will completely block all vendor accounts associated to the unlawful sale of the childlike dolls and set stricter controls on its platform.

The French shopper watchdog, the Directorate Basic for Competitors, Client Affairs and Fraud Management, stated the intercourse dolls’ description and categorisation left “little doubt as to the kid pornography nature” of the merchandise.