Shein's Paris store kicks up a storm in France

Asian e-commerce giant Shein's decision to set up shop in a historic Parisian department store has ruffled feathers in the fashion capital.

- (By Aurelie Carabin/AFP)

A picture taken on March 18, 2016 in Paris, shows the building of the BHV Marais' store.

Anger has been boiling since Shein announced last week that it would open its first permanent physical store in November at BHV Marais, an iconic building that has stood across from Paris City Hall since 1856.

The move prompted some French brands to announce they would leave BHV Marais, but the department store had already been losing tenants over late payments.

Aime cosmetics line co-founder Mathilde Lacombe, whose brand was among those that decided to leave following Shein's announcement, said she was "deeply shocked" by the deal.

BHV trade unions also led calls on Friday for strike action to protest Shein's arrival, warning of a "short-term threat to the survival of the department store."

Critics fear that Shein -- whose meteoric rise has been a bane for traditional retail fashion companies -- will further hurt stores in France that have had to lay off staff or close.

Founded in China and now based in Singapore, the fast-fashion giant sells a wide variety of products at ultra-competitive prices.

But it has also been under global scrutiny over its business model's impact on the environment and labor conditions at its textile factories.