Protesters slam Shein as Paris store opens; France moves for suspension

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VIDEO SHOWS: WRAP OF EDITS RELATED TO SHEIN STORE CONTROVERSY IN FRANCE

EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: THIS EDIT IS A WRAP AND CONTAINS NO NEW MATERIAL. ORIGINAL EDIT NUMBERS ARE INCLUDED IN SHOTLIST

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: A small group of protesters gathered in front of the BHV department store as Chinese e-commerce giant Shein is set to open its first-ever permanent shop in in the heart of the French capital later on Wednesday (November 5).

(9558-SHEIN-FRANCE/MORNING)

PARIS, FRANCE (NOVEMBER 5, 2025) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. PROTESTERS STANDING IN FRONT OF SHEIN STORE SET TO OPEN AT BHV MARAIS DEPARTMENT STORE, HOLDING SIGN READING (English): "Shame on Shein!"

2. SMALL PROTEST IN FRONT OF BHV

3. PROTEST SIGN WITH TEXT ON TOP READING (English/French): "Shein - Made in suffering at the other end of the world"

4. PROTESTERS HOLDING SIGNS

5. SHEIN BILLBOARD AND BANNERS ON FACADE OF BHV MARAIS DEPARTMENT STORE

6. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WALKING BY SIGN READING (French): "Shein - first world opening - November 5 - 1 p.m."

7. (SOUNDBITE) (French) HEAD OF JEUNES HORIZONS PARTY, MARINE CAZARD, SAYING:

"Today, we object to Shein installing itself in the heart of Paris. By the way, we object that it installs itself in other cities in France permanently. First, their website is disgusting, the press talked about it so much already so we'll not get into it (child-like sex dolls being sold on Shein). But especially, we came to say that, we are capable today of re-industrialising our country, to defend French textiles again, French and European knowhow. And we came to say that we reject companies like Shein, which destroy jobs, the planet and the health of the French people - we don't talk about it enough - but everything in these badly manufactured textiles impacts the health of the French people."

Dozens of shoppers lined up outside the 19th-century BHV department store in Paris' Marais district before the opening of the online fast-fashion retailer Shein's first ever permanent shop on Wednesday (November 5) amid fierce criticism of its low-cost business model.

(9600-SHEIN-FRANCE/QUEUE)

PARIS, FRANCE (NOVEMBER 5, 2025) (REUTERS - Access all)

8. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE QUEUING OUTSIDE SHEIN STORE AHEAD OF OPENING

9. WOMAN DRINKING COFFEE

10. VARIOUS OF QUEUE OUTSIDE STORE

11. QUEUE OUTSIDE STORE

12. (SOUNDBITE) (French) PARISIAN WHO WORKS IN HIGH-END PRET-A-PORTER, NAIMA OGBA, SAYING:

"I've been waiting for two hours and I'll wait for Shein to open. And I tell Shein, bravo, and let me note some small things, since this can only bring potential to BHV. Don't believe that it's just for Shein, it's that they (BHV) too will earn lots of money. Do you understand? And Shein isn't nothing, they have 10,000 square metres, and they're paying the rent. By paying the rent, there will be lots of people for Shein, there will be people for everyone, and business will again move forward. And I wish Shein to open other outlets here in Paris, and especially in the Galeries Lafayette, why not?"

13. VARIOUS OF PROTESTER SHOUTING, THEN BEING ESCORTED AWAY BY POLICE

The BHV department store's owner Frederic Merlin said he was pleased that customers were lining up on Wednesday (November 5) as crowds gathered ahead of the opening of Chinese fast fashion brand Shein's first physical store, in Paris. Merlin also said he guaranteed the quality of Shein items sold in the iconic department store, though he criticised the sale of some items on company's online marketplace.

(9623-SHEIN-FRANCE/BHV)

PARIS, FRANCE (NOVEMBER 5, 2025) (REUTERS - Access all)

14. (SOUNDBITE) (French) SOCIETE DES GRANDS MAGASINS (SGM) PRESIDENT, FREDERIC MERLIN, SAYING:

"From what I can tell you, the clothes that are manufactured here respect workers' rights, and I've made sure of that."

15. SIGN FOR SHEIN

16. (SOUNDBITE) (French) SOCIETE DES GRANDS MAGASINS (SGM) PRESIDENT, FREDERIC MERLIN, SAYING:

"This whole situation (with childlike sex dolls temporarily available on Shein's online platform) is absolutely terrible, it's despicable. I've said it several times. I strongly encourage, and I'm still having discussions following this morning's announcements about the bladed weapons being sold on the platform, I strongly encourage the leaders of Shein to establish rules and establish them quickly, to make important decisions regarding this marketplace. Because I vouch for the quality of the products that are here, these are products from Shein, I'm proud to say this. What Shein's marketplace is doing is not right. That's it."

After queueing for hours in France's capital, hundreds of shoppers thronged the opening of online fast-fashion retailer Shein's first permanent shop on Wednesday (November 5). Costumers walked the aisles in search of deals but some lamented that prices were not as low as in the physical store as the brand's online marketplace.

(9631-SHEIN-FRANCE/OPENING)

PARIS, FRANCE (NOVEMBER 5, 2025) (REUTERS - Access all)

17. SOCIETE DES GRANDS MAGASINS (SGM) GROUP OPERATIONS MANAGER, KARL-STEPHANE COTTENDIN, CUTTING RIBBON TO OPEN SHEIN STORE

18. CUSTOMERS CHEERING

19. VARIOUS OF CUSTOMERS ARRIVING

20. VARIOUS OF CUSTOMERS ENTERING BHV DEPARTMENT STORE BUILDING

21. VARIOUS OF CUSTOMERS QUEUEING

22. CUSTOMERS ENTERING

23. EMPLOYEES HANDING OUT CARDS

24. CUSTOMERS ENTERING

25. (SOUNDBITE) (French) CUSTOMER AND ENERGY INDUSTRY WORKER, ABDER TOUIHRI, SAYING:

JOURNALIST: "Is that fair or not?"

"Expensive, too expensive."

JOURNALIST: "Were you expecting it to be cheaper?"

"Better quality, a little cheaper. Better quality, a little cheaper."

Protesters demonstrated inside and outside a Paris department store on Wednesday (November 5) as Shein, the online fast-fashion retailer, opened its first retail shop amid fierce criticism of its low-cost business model. "Complicit in the Uyghur genocide" protesters screamed shortly before being removed by security, referring to allegations that the retailer's supply chain in China includes items produced by Uyghur forced labour.

(9647-SHEIN-FRANCE/PROTEST)

PARIS, FRANCE (NOVEMBER 5, 2025) (REUTERS - Access all)

26. PROTESTERS WITH SIGN INSIDE SHEIN STORY SCREAMING (French): "Complicit in genocide! Complicit in the Uyghur genocide! Complicit in child sexual crimes!"

27. PROTESTERS WITH SIGNS

28. VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS BEING REMOVED BY SECURITY

29. SIGN OUTSIDE BHV READING (French): "No Shein at BHV"

France is starting the process to suspend Shein until it complies with French laws and regulations, the finance ministry said on Wednesday (November 5). "On the Prime Minister's instructions, the government is initiating proceedings to suspend Shein for as long as necessary for the platform to demonstrate to the authorities that all of its content is finally in compliance with our laws and regulations," the ministry said in a statement.

(9663-SHEIN-FRANCE/)

INTERNET (NOVEMBER 5, 2025) (FRENCH FINANCE MINISTRY - Access all) (MUTE)

30. VARIOUS OF PRESS RELEASE BY FRENCH FINANCE MINISTRY READING (French): "On the Prime Minister's instructions, the government is initiating proceedings to suspend Shein for as long as necessary for the platform to demonstrate to the authorities that all of its content is finally in compliance with our laws and regulations. A first progress report will be provided by the ministers within the next 48 hours."