BUSINESS STUDIES
CURRENT AFFAIRS 2024–
2026 (IEB)
, 1
BUSINESS STUDIES CURENT AFFAIRS 2024-2026
LEADERSHIP
CEO: Sky Xu (also known as Chris Xu).
Style: He is famously private and rarely speaks to the media. He started as an SEO (search
engine optimization) expert, which is why Shein is so good at appearing at the top of every
Google search.
Approval: Despite controversies, he has a high approval rating (around 85%) from corporate
employees, though factory workers have a much different view.
SWOT ANALYSIS (INTERNAL & EXTERNAL)
Strengths (What they are good at) Weaknesses (Where they struggle)
Speed: They add 6,000+ new items a Quality: Many customers complain clothes feel
day. "disposable" or thin.
Price: Most items cost under $10–$15. Legal Battles: Constantly sued for stealing designs
from small artists.
@studysmarterpro
, 2
Data: They use AI to track TikTok trends in Reputation: Seen as "unethical" by many Gen Z and
real-time. Millennial shoppers.
Opportunities (Future growth) Threats (External risks)
Physical Stores: Opening "pop-up" shops New Laws: Governments (like France and the US)
and permanent spots in malls. are passing "Anti-Fast Fashion" laws.
Resale: Their "Shein Exchange" app lets Competition: Temu is fighting them for the lowest
people sell used Shein clothes. prices.
IPO: Planning to go public on the London Tariffs: New taxes on cheap imports are making
Stock Exchange to raise billions. their clothes more expensive.
PESTEL ANALYSIS
Political: Tensions between the US and China are a huge risk. Governments are investigating if
Shein uses forced labor in certain regions.
Economic: High inflation makes people want cheaper clothes, which helps Shein. However,
shipping costs have risen by 12% recently.
Social: While Gen Z loves the prices, there is a massive social movement against "haul culture"
(buying 50 items at once) because it's seen as greedy.
Technological: Shein is a tech company first, fashion second. They use "on-demand"
manufacturing, making only 100 pieces of a shirt to see if it sells before making more.
Environmental: Shein’s carbon footprint grew significantly between 2022 and 2024. They are
now investing $280 million to try and fix textile waste.
Legal: They face strict new rules like the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence
Directive, which forces them to prove their workers are treated well.
ETHICAL VS. UNETHICAL ACTIONS
Unethical Things (The "Bad")
Labor Hours: Investigations in 2024–2025 found some workers still doing 75-hour weeks with
only one day off a month.
Design Theft: They have been accused of "stealing" art from independent designers and
printing it on shirts without permission.
Chemicals: In 2024, some Shein products (like shoes and bags) were found to have high levels
of toxic chemicals like phthalates.
Ethical Things (The "Good")
Reducing Waste: Unlike H&M or Zara, they don't have huge warehouses of unsold clothes.
They only make what people actually buy.
Sustainability Pledges: They aim to reduce carbon emissions by 25% by 2030 and are using
more recycled polyester.
Inclusivity: They offer a much wider range of plus-size clothing than traditional brands.
WHAT THEY NEED TO DO NEXT
Start Doing: They must allow third-party audits of every single factory to prove there is no
forced labor.
Stop Doing: They need to stop the "ultra-fast" cycle that encourages people to throw away
clothes after one wear.
Focus On: Improving the quality of the fabric so clothes last longer than three washes.
1. Shein vs. Temu: The 2026 Comparison
Feature Shein Temu
Business Fashion Brand: Owns its designs and Marketplace: A "digital mall" where
Model works closely with specialized clothing thousands of different sellers list random
@studysmarterpro
CURRENT AFFAIRS 2024–
2026 (IEB)
, 1
BUSINESS STUDIES CURENT AFFAIRS 2024-2026
LEADERSHIP
CEO: Sky Xu (also known as Chris Xu).
Style: He is famously private and rarely speaks to the media. He started as an SEO (search
engine optimization) expert, which is why Shein is so good at appearing at the top of every
Google search.
Approval: Despite controversies, he has a high approval rating (around 85%) from corporate
employees, though factory workers have a much different view.
SWOT ANALYSIS (INTERNAL & EXTERNAL)
Strengths (What they are good at) Weaknesses (Where they struggle)
Speed: They add 6,000+ new items a Quality: Many customers complain clothes feel
day. "disposable" or thin.
Price: Most items cost under $10–$15. Legal Battles: Constantly sued for stealing designs
from small artists.
@studysmarterpro
, 2
Data: They use AI to track TikTok trends in Reputation: Seen as "unethical" by many Gen Z and
real-time. Millennial shoppers.
Opportunities (Future growth) Threats (External risks)
Physical Stores: Opening "pop-up" shops New Laws: Governments (like France and the US)
and permanent spots in malls. are passing "Anti-Fast Fashion" laws.
Resale: Their "Shein Exchange" app lets Competition: Temu is fighting them for the lowest
people sell used Shein clothes. prices.
IPO: Planning to go public on the London Tariffs: New taxes on cheap imports are making
Stock Exchange to raise billions. their clothes more expensive.
PESTEL ANALYSIS
Political: Tensions between the US and China are a huge risk. Governments are investigating if
Shein uses forced labor in certain regions.
Economic: High inflation makes people want cheaper clothes, which helps Shein. However,
shipping costs have risen by 12% recently.
Social: While Gen Z loves the prices, there is a massive social movement against "haul culture"
(buying 50 items at once) because it's seen as greedy.
Technological: Shein is a tech company first, fashion second. They use "on-demand"
manufacturing, making only 100 pieces of a shirt to see if it sells before making more.
Environmental: Shein’s carbon footprint grew significantly between 2022 and 2024. They are
now investing $280 million to try and fix textile waste.
Legal: They face strict new rules like the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence
Directive, which forces them to prove their workers are treated well.
ETHICAL VS. UNETHICAL ACTIONS
Unethical Things (The "Bad")
Labor Hours: Investigations in 2024–2025 found some workers still doing 75-hour weeks with
only one day off a month.
Design Theft: They have been accused of "stealing" art from independent designers and
printing it on shirts without permission.
Chemicals: In 2024, some Shein products (like shoes and bags) were found to have high levels
of toxic chemicals like phthalates.
Ethical Things (The "Good")
Reducing Waste: Unlike H&M or Zara, they don't have huge warehouses of unsold clothes.
They only make what people actually buy.
Sustainability Pledges: They aim to reduce carbon emissions by 25% by 2030 and are using
more recycled polyester.
Inclusivity: They offer a much wider range of plus-size clothing than traditional brands.
WHAT THEY NEED TO DO NEXT
Start Doing: They must allow third-party audits of every single factory to prove there is no
forced labor.
Stop Doing: They need to stop the "ultra-fast" cycle that encourages people to throw away
clothes after one wear.
Focus On: Improving the quality of the fabric so clothes last longer than three washes.
1. Shein vs. Temu: The 2026 Comparison
Feature Shein Temu
Business Fashion Brand: Owns its designs and Marketplace: A "digital mall" where
Model works closely with specialized clothing thousands of different sellers list random
@studysmarterpro
