Chinese online fast fashion brand Shein re-enters India after 5 years, has connection with Reliance Retail

China’s online fast fashion brand Shein has re-entered the Indian market after five years. The company was banned by Indian retail giant Reliance Retail. According to a PTI report, Reliance Retail’s Shein India fast fashion app currently has more than 10,000 downloads on Google Play Store and is in the top-10 among its counterparts on Apple’s store. The Singapore-based brand offers affordable fashion products in India through its app and online store.

Ban was imposed in June 2020

According to the news, in June 2020, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology banned Shein after tensions with China escalated. Nearly three years after being banned in India, Shein partnered with Reliance Retail, led by billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s daughter Isha Ambani, in 2023. Reliance Retail Ventures Limited (RRVL), which owns Shein, had entered into a technology agreement with Roadgate Business Private Limited to develop an indigenous e-commerce retail platform through its subsidiary RRL (Reliance Retail Limited).

Piyush Goyal had told in a written reply

In December last year, the government had informed the Lok Sabha that the sale of Shein’s branded products has not been banned, although its app has been blocked. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal had said in a written reply that the platform aims to create a network of local manufacturers and suppliers who will manufacture products under the brand Shein and sell them domestically and globally. He said the textiles ministry consulted with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, which in turn consulted with the Home Ministry and did not object to RRVL’s proposal.

All platform data will remain in India

Goyal said the license agreement included the protection that the ownership and control of the platform will always remain with RRVL through its wholly-owned subsidiary. As per the agreement, at all times, the platform will be hosted on infrastructure in India and all platform data will remain in India, while Shein will have no access or rights to such data. The parties agreeing to the agreement will have to comply with Indian laws and ensure localisation of infrastructure and platform data.