Long queues for opening of Shein store in Paris despite child sex doll row

Large queues formed for the opening of the world’s first physical Shein store, even as the company faced heavy criticism, including for selling a “childlike sex doll” online.

Shein, a Chinese fast-fashion and e-commerce site established in 2008, has exploded in recent years to become one of the world’s leading fashion brands.

Primarily an online business, it opened its first physical shop today (November 5) on the sixth floor of the iconic BHV department store in Paris. 

Previously, the company had opened short-term ‘pop-up’ stores, but the location in BHV is set to be permanent. 

Queues stretched down Rue de Rivoli heading into the department store for the opening with people eager to get a glimpse inside the Shein boutique. 

At the same time, protestors are hurling insults at would-be shoppers.

Further physical stores are set to open at BHV enterprises in Dijon, Reims, Grenoble, Angers and Limoges.

Criticisms include online sale of childlike sex doll

The opening of the Paris store has been hit by a string of controversies.

Shein has long been criticised in Europe for a range of issues including human rights violations and claims of modern slavery, tax evasion, and environmental damage from the creation and sending of goods. 

In 2023, French authorities launched an investigation into the site for alleged human rights abuses, initiated by Socialist Party complaints. 

So far in 2025, the company has received nearly €200 million in fines from France for failing to adhere to rules, including over online ‘cookie’ collection.

More recently, the company has been embroiled in controversy over the sale of lifelike sex dolls that included ‘childlike’ silicone versions through its online marketplace. 

It led to French Finance Minister Roland Lescure threatening on Monday (November 3) to ban Shein from any form of commerce in France, including its planned hallmark physical store and online sales unless the dolls were immediately removed.

The company responded by pulling all sex dolls including the childlike ones from the ‘adult’ section of its website, and promising to co-operate fully with French authorities over the matter.

“While each seller is responsible for their own listings, Shein does not tolerate any violation of its internal rules and policies,” it said in a statement, adding it has placed “strict sanctions” on the sellers responsible for the dolls. 

The threat – and the seizure of a child-like sex doll in the post on its way to a buyer in the Bouches-du-Rhône department on Wednesday morning – did not prevent Shein from opening its flagship store today.

However, this afternoon the French government said it was looking into ‘suspending’ Shein’s online element until the company could prove it was adhering to French laws.

Sanctions would be outlined by Friday (November 7) afternoon, it said.

Several businesses pull out of BHV

The opening has sent shockwaves throughout both personal and professional spheres. 

As customers lined up for the 13:00 opening of the store, they were flanked by protestors of the store, many holding signs pointing to allegations that Shein uses slave-like labour in the north-western Xinjiang region of China, home to the Uyghur population.

In addition around a dozen retailers with stores located inside BHV announced they will pull out due to the inclusion of Shein. 

“I like clothes that are good quality, made with good materials," said designer Agnès Troublé (brand name agnès b) who works with the retailer.

 "You buy that and you're set for a very long time. It's the opposite of Shein,” she added, pointing out once her contract with BHV expires in January she will not renew it. 

“I'm completely against this fast fashion, which is worse than anything. Jobs are threatened, it's very bad. [Young people] mustn't be fooled by this. We don't need so many clothes.” 

Others to pull out include ethical footwear brand Odaje and Disneyland Paris, which will not open its planned Christmas pop-up at the Paris BHV. 

Several other French stores in the group, which operate under the Galeries Lafayette brand name – including in Angers, Dijon, Grenoble, Limoges and Reims – are to be renamed following criticism from the owner of the trademark over the inclusion of Shein boutiques in the BHV framework.