SHEIN partners with Queen of Raw to become a global leader in saving excess industry inventory through circular economy technology.
SHEIN, a global e-retailer of fashion, beauty and lifestyle products, and Queen of Raw, a global circular economy technology company, have announced a partnership whose flagship software, Materia MX, specializes in solving supply chain inventory overstocks for Fortune 500 companies, supporting SHEIN's ambition to be the leading rescuer of quality stale materials. By repurposing other brands' excess inventory, the company will avoid consuming new textile resources, creating a blueprint for an alternative business model that leverages circularity to reduce textile waste and reduce the use of new raw materials.
To achieve this goal, SHEIN is using Queen of Raw's proprietary software, Materia MX, to source existing materials from brands and retailers in the hopes of responsibly clearing excess fabric inventory rather than wasting it in landfills. According to Queen of Raw's impact measurement algorithm, developed with support from MIT Solve's Solve Innovation Future, moving 10,000 yards of fabric from excess inventory will put SHEIN on track to become one of the world's leaders. Repurposing stalled materials helps conserve water and prevent the generation of CO2 equivalents produced through traditional production methods.
"We look forward to supporting one of the world's leading retailers in their supply chain transformation journey. SHEIN's influence in the fashion industry coincides with our position as a global leader in measuring and reporting on the environmental impact of excess inventory and waste streams across industries." Said Stephanie Benedetto, CEO of Queen of Raw. "Our technology enables SHEIN to incorporate local stalled textiles from other brands into its on-demand business model to optimize future inventory purchases. As a result, the impact of climate and water is reduced, while improving transparency."
The software automates SHEIN's supply chain workflow, allowing verification that unused materials meet SHEIN's sourcing requirements and Materia MX's stall criteria. SHEIN designers can then incorporate these materials into products sold on the SHEIN platform. The Materia MX platform also allows SHEIN to track and report data against scientific standards. Working with Queen of Raw supports our move toward a more circular system, starting with product design," said Caitrin Watson, SHEIN's Director of Sustainability. Because SHEIN's business model is to produce products on demand, we do not accumulate excessive fabric liability, one of the biggest financial and sustainability challenges facing the fashion industry. We are prepared to purchase high-quality surplus materials to help us reduce the environmental impact of our products and become a circular solution for other businesses."
Source: ESG News