Could Skims be worse than Shein? This report says so
When your $32 thong scores lower than a $5 Shein piece in a report measuring human rights, environmental, economic, and political metrics in fashion’s supply chain, you know you’re in trouble. In the latest accountability report by the nonprofit Remake, we see an overview of the fashion industry’s progress on human rights and environmental impact. And the results are shocking.
The scoring evaluates companies based on traceability, wages and well-being, commercial practices, raw materials, environmental justice, and governance—much of which depends on publicly released reports.
Out of a maximum score of 150, top-ranking brands include Everlane, H&M, Puma, Reformation, and Ralph Lauren. Not far behind are Burberry and Levi’s. Toward the middle are Adidas, Gap, and Lululemon. And at the very bottom, with a nonexistent score of 0, are Fashion Nova, Skims, and Temu. And surprisingly, just a few points above them is Shein with a score of 6, ranking higher than both Chanel and Savage x Fenty.
It’s starting to smell a little funky
Now, doesn’t this all smell a little funky? Not the report per se, but the brands themselves, and just how honest they’re being about their supply chains and materials.
This lack of transparency often hides the use of cheap, dangerous chemicals in synthetic fabrics and dyes. These are the same materials that make up the clothes we wear closest to our skin. And intimate wear, especially, can become a delivery system for toxic chemicals into our bodies.
Those toxic chemicals are very much present in Skims’ latest viral product—one that’s designed to be worn on the most intimate parts of the body. And that might just smell a little funky, too.
The oil-based plastic Skims thong
In a video by sustainable fashion consultant Twin Scott, he examines Skims’ materials and calls out the Faux Hair Micro String Thong. It’s an itsy-bitsy panty with trimmings that resemble… nether hair. I’m not going to say it’s pretty, but whatever floats your boat, right?
And right now, it’s floating many boats. If you check the Skims website, every size and color of the thong is sold out.
Scott lists out the materials used for the thong, which are publicly available on the Skims website, and compiles its ingredients of 82 percent polyamide (nylon) and 18 percent elastane (lycra). In other words, 100 percent oil-based plastic.
While nylon and lycra may seem like innocent enough materials, these synthetic materials don’t allow the skin to breathe. They trap moisture and heat, issues amplified when worn against highly sensitive genital skin.
He goes on to expound on the dangers beyond simple skin irritation and how these contain compounds that are endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs). These EDCs are known to mimic or interfere with the body’s natural hormones, and exposure to them via intimate apparel has been linked to impacting fertility and reproductive health issues.
So, could this fast fashion piece be adding a little unwanted “extra chemistry” to your bedroom look—making trendiness more toxic than it’s worth?
As Scott emphasizes, “These are your private parts… So when I see these synthetic faux hair thongs are completely sold out, it’s worrying to me that people see the fun in Kim’s piss taking capitalism, and not the impact these could have, not only on the planet, but on our bodies.”
Real dangers
The pinned comment on Scott’s video is by a user, @illegally__blonde323, who recounted a harrowing experience of being caught in the rain while wearing a Shein yoga set, which allegedly led to her becoming cold, dizzy, throwing up, and developing a pounding headache. The user claimed the soaking wet clothes “stunk like burnt plastic, and chemicals, much like bleach,” reinforcing the concerns about chemical load in fast fashion materials.
This doesn’t seem to be an isolated danger either. Among many documented cases is the high-profile case of Delta Airlines’ uniforms.
The flight union itself released a statement on how the toxic chemicals led to the employees breaking out in hives and skin rashes as well as respiratory issues like shortness of breath and hair loss. The new purple uniform line was found to have a dangerous amount of chemicals, such as formaldehyde and heavy metals like nickel and chromium.
Taking our purchases more seriously
The Remake report serves as a stark reminder: a high price tag does not equate to highly ethical or environmental standards. When a brand that scores zero on accountability is selling products made of 100 percent oil-based plastic with potential chemical risks for your most sensitive areas, it’s time to reset our relationship with fashion.
The choice between a Shein bodysuit and a Skims thong may be a choice between two sides of the same toxic, opaque coin. As consumers, our purchasing decisions are like votes. Maybe it’s time to take what we buy more seriously and demand transparent, non-toxic alternatives for the sake of not just our planet, but our health, too.
