On Earth Day, a protest was staged in downtown LA outside a Shein distribution center by sustainable fashion activist Lexy Silverstein in collaboration with Remake, a nonprofit and global advocacy organization advocating for fair pay and climate justice. Students donning bathrobes and holding signs that said, “I’d rather go naked than wear Shein,” gathered.

While opposition to fast fashion’s practices isn’t new, the event came at a particularly precarious time for Shein as it awaits its US IPO approval while its profits reportedly doubled amid increased demand. And activists believe it’s time the retailer takes accountability.

A company spokesperson declined to be named with a comment on the record.

Doubling down: The demand for its products also hasn’t spared the Singapore-based retailer from scrutiny and allegations of unsustainable practices, copying emerging designers’ work, and unfair labor practices.

In fact, the brand’s favorability among Gen Z (Shein’s primary target demographic) fell ~20 percentage points last year, while net purchasing consideration dropped 10 points.

If anything, the recent protests only seem to put a bigger spotlight on the issues and particularly on Shein. Still, per Silverstein, Shein isn’t necessarily her only target.

Keep reading here.—JS

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April was a busy month for the retail C-suite: luxury fashion execs were on the move, Walmart’s board lost a Walton, and a celebrity founder stepped away from her company’s day-to-day operations. Here’s the news to know:

• Rob Walton, the eldest son of Walmart founder Sam Walton and the retailer’s longest-serving board member, announced he’ll retire from his role on June 5, leaving his nephew, Steuart Walton, as the only Walton still on the board. Walmart has nominated Chipotle chairman and CEO Brian Niccol as Rob Walton’s replacement.
• GameStop COO Nir Patel exited the role he held for nearly two years, which the retailer said they won’t look to fill.
• Jessica Alba shared plans to step down from her role as chief creative officer of the Honest Company 12 years after founding the brand, though she’ll retain her board seat.
• Crocs announced that Terence Reilly, its former CMO, who left the company in 2020 to serve as CEO of the Stanley brand, rejoined to lead Crocs’s Heydude brand as president.

Keep reading here.—EC

While the weather might be unpredictable lately, we’ve got something you can always count on: Retail Brew’s regularly scheduled fashion dispatch. This week, we’re watching a major luxury brand join the ranks of those impacted by the consumer spending slowdown, and a mega fast fashion retailer venture beyond fashion.

Mulberry sales fall

British luxury retailer Mulberry is feeling the burn of consumer pullback. On May 1, it reported a 4% drop in annual sales for its fiscal year ending on March 30. CEO Thierry Andretta blamed a “downturn in luxury spending,” especially in the UK and Asia, but said some losses were offset by “positive trading in the US…The trading environment in the UK and China remains challenging and we do not expect this to change in the short term,” he said.

Why this matters: Mulberry is just the latest in a long line of luxury retailers facing rising costs and consumers holding back on luxury purchases. Even large conglomerates like Kering are struggling as brands like Gucci and YSL—both under its umbrella—have reported declining sales over the past year.

Keep reading here.—JS

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