October 2, 2025

Get ready, Paris and more! The online fast-fashion giant Shein is stepping off your phone screens and hitting real store shelves in France this November! Under a smart deal with top department store owner Societe des Grands Magasins (SGM), Shein will pop up as permanent 'shop-in-shops' inside the famous BHV department store in central Paris and the Galeries Lafayette in five other cities. SGM president Frederic Merlin is excited and says this move is a win-win: “It will attract a younger crowd to our department stores, and the same customer might buy a Shein item and a designer handbag on the same day.” How’s that for style variety under one roof? But not everyone is cheering. French retailers are raising red flags. Shein is known for ultra-cheap clothes—like dresses for 12 euros and jeans at 20 euros—which is shaking up the market. The Federation Francaise du Pret-a-Porter’s head, Yann Rivoallan, fired a strong shot saying, “In front of the Paris City Hall, they are creating the new Shein megastore, which - after destroying dozens of French brands - aims to flood our market even more massively with disposable products.” French fashion shops have been struggling for years, especially with rivals like Zara and H&M. Shein’s super low prices and addictive shopping app have only made it tougher. This year, some well-known French fast-fashion brands like Jennyfer and NafNaf even faced bankruptcy. So, where and when can you visit Shein’s new digs? The very first store will open on the sixth floor of BHV in early November. Then, keep your eyes peeled for new Shein sections inside Galeries Lafayette stores in Dijon, Grenoble, Reims, Limoges, and Angers. This big move by Shein is shaking up France’s fashion scene. Will it bring fresh energy or more fierce competition? French fashion lovers will surely watch closely as the story unfolds in the months ahead!

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Tags: Shein, Fast fashion, France, Sgm, Department stores, Retail criticism,