Reliance, Shein Aim to Sell India-Made Clothes Abroad

CHINA-FOUNDED FASHION retailer Shein and partner Reliance Retail plan to rapidly expand their Indian supplier base and start international sales of India-made Shein-branded clothes within six to 12 months, said two people with knowledge of the matter.

- Dhwani Pandya & Helen Reid

The Singapore-headquartered Shein has been discussing plans with the Reliance firm since before the US imposed tariffs on Chinese imports that intensified the need to diversify sourcing, the people said. The aim is to raise Indian suppliers to 1,000 from 150 within a year, they said.

In a statement to Reuters, Shein said its partnership with Reliance was limited to the licensing of its brand to Reliance Retail for Indian domestic consumption only. Reliance did not respond to queries.

Shein sells low-priced apparel such as $5 (around ₹450) dresses and $10 (around ₹850) jeans shipped directly from 7,000 suppliers in China to customers in around 150 countries. Its biggest market is the US where it is adjusting to tariffs on low-value e-commerce packages from China which could previously be imported duty-free.

The retailer launched in India in 2018 but its app was banned in 2020 as part of government action against China-linked firms amid border tension with its northeastern neighbour.