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.

Others denounced the sale of child-like sex dolls on Shein's website, which caused outcry in France upon its discovery.

Shein said it had sanctioned the sellers and implemented a full ban on sex dolls.

As the protesters rallied, shoppers filed into the 19th-century BHV department store in the city's Marais shopping district at 1 p.m. (1200 GMT) on Wednesday and several riot police officers looked on.

Shein's store, which occupies 1,000 square meters on the sixth floor of the BHV and has created 50 jobs, has caused uproar among politicians including Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo, as well as retailers who said that Shein's business model has an unfair advantage and has eroded French high streets.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

'Shame on you', protesters slam opening of Shein outlet in Paris

VIDEO SHOWS: PROTESTERS INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF BHV DEPARTMENT STORE DENOUNCING OPENING OF SHEIN SHOP

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

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

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

2. PROTESTERS WITH SIGNS

3. VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS BEING REMOVED BY SECURITY

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

5. MAN HOLDING SIGN READING (French): "No Shein at BHV" BEING ESCORTED AWAY BY POLICE

6. PROTESTER ESCORTED TO OTHER SIDE OF STREET

7. VARIOUS OF PROTESTER HOLDING SIGN READING (French): "FORCED LABOUR OVER THERE, 300,000 JOBS LOST HERE", "SHEIN PROFITS FROM UYGHUR FORCED LABOUR", "SHEIN = MODERN SLAVERY" AND "HUMAN RIGHTS, NOT INHUMAN PROFITS"

8. POLICE STANDING GUARD

9. PROTESTER WAVING FLAG

10. PROTESTER HOLDING SIGN READING (French): "We say NO to SHEIN at BHV!"

11. PROTESTERS

12. STICKER ON PROTESTER'S CHEST READING (French): "NO SHEIN"

13. PROTESTERS BEHIND BARRIER