Wed Feb 05 05:12:53 UTC 2025: **Shein Returns to India via Reliance Retail App After 2020 Ban**
MUMBAI, INDIA – After a nearly five-year absence, Chinese fashion giant Shein has re-entered the Indian market. Reliance Retail, owned by billionaire Mukesh Ambani, launched a dedicated app, “Shein India Fast Fashion,” on Saturday, offering a range of low-priced clothing designed and manufactured in India under a licensing agreement with Shein.
The launch marks a significant development, considering Shein’s app was banned in 2020 along with other Chinese apps amid concerns over data security and heightened diplomatic tensions between India and China. This new venture circumvents the previous ban by focusing on Indian manufacturing and utilizing a licensing model rather than a direct app presence.
Initially, deliveries will be limited to select cities, including New Delhi and Mumbai, with plans for nationwide expansion soon. The app features dresses priced as low as ₹350 ($4). Reliance will pay a licensing fee to Shein for the use of its brand name, but there is no equity investment involved in the partnership.
While this launch uses a separate app, a Reliance spokesperson indicated that Shein-branded products will eventually be available on Reliance’s flagship fashion app, Ajio. This strategy differs from Ajio’s previous approach of adding individual brands.
The move comes as Shein prepares for a potential London stock market listing in the first half of 2025, having abandoned its US listing attempt due to regulatory hurdles.
First Piper 