Help me buy this top and not feel bad about it.

July 16, 2023 8:53 AM

I saw an ad for a tank top I really, really want but its sold on Shein. I am trying to avoid giving money to fast fashion companies with questionable ethics/practices. Where can I find a comparable shirt from a more reputable company?

I just saw an add for this awesome shirt on Shein's website. Its perfect and I want it! However...I try not to shop from Shein or any similarly gross exploitative companies with cheaply made goods. What I love about this is the dark colors and the v-neck. And the fact that its fitted but not super tight. And it just looks soft (but I'm sure the actual one from Shein feels gross and would fall apart in a week.) Please help me find something similar! It needs all the components - thin straps, v-neck, dark/muted colors in wide stripes/colorblocks.

I have searched SO MUCH online and cant find anything even close.

posted by silverstatue to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (15 answers total)

Could you offset the negative consequences of buying it on Shein with a donation to some kind of environmental/human rights group?
posted by bbqturtle at 9:03 AM on July 16, 2023 [1 favorite]

Having watched far too many Shein hauls, and the fact that they are currently being charged under the RICO act (which was originally created for prosecuting the mafia!!) I can almost guarantee that it's produced from slave or child labor, much smaller and tighter than it looks in the picture (or much boxier and not fitted at all), the material will be thin and gross, and the stitching will probably not last more than a wash or two.

If you still really must buy it, please make a donation to an organization that helps combat child slave labor or human trafficking.
posted by ananci at 9:23 AM on July 16, 2023 [7 favorites]

Have you looked on eBay or Poshmark? Buying used, you wouldn’t actually be giving any money to Shein.
posted by kevinbelt at 9:28 AM on July 16, 2023 [4 favorites]

Dang, I love that top too! I found this on Amazon.ca - the straps are a little too wide tho, and it's got buttons for the vneck. But it looks decently similar. But may also be giving $$ to undesirable companies.

I really just started googling the same keywords used by Shein - in this case "Colorblock Notched Neck Top". Then I swapped out top for tank. There's quite a few that look similar to the amazon one above, but all do feel fast-fashion-ish. I then tried limiting to etsy, thinking maybe you could get something custom made, and found this but it's clearly just a reseller.

Hmm. Wish I had more luck!
posted by cgg at 9:49 AM on July 16, 2023 [1 favorite]

I completely understand and, like you, try to avoid unethical brands or somehow offset my purchase.

I am of course not endorsing child labor when I say this, but is there a part of you that says it’s ok to spend the $7 and take it out of $7 you might spend at Amazon ? Or to make a $25 donation to an org that works to improve working conditions/ get rid of child labor?
posted by mermaidcafe at 9:53 AM on July 16, 2023

Response by poster: Thanks for the answers so far! It's not just that I don't want to buy from an unethical company, although that is of course extremely important to me. It's also that I know it'll be of poor quality. So I'm not interested in buying the Shein top even if it's used/ from a reseller.

Really just looking for a similar top from a good company!
posted by silverstatue at 9:57 AM on July 16, 2023 [4 favorites]

At the other extreme of ethical production (and $$$), I think these colors would make a fabulous crochet top - If there's a decent fiber arts scene in your area, maybe you could commission a similar tank?
posted by nanny's striped stocking at 10:02 AM on July 16, 2023 [2 favorites]

Here is as close as I got. I did find something actually pretty similar on AliExpress, but it was $5, shipped from China, and already sold out *facepalm*. I found something similar on Zulily, but that was also sold out.

My only thought is to track someone down who will make custom garments for someone and ask them to try and replicate it, but I don't have anyone to recommend. I guess attempt to look on Etsy or something for someone who offers custom services. Like nanny's striped stocking, I also thought, "see if someone can make it out of yarn," but it doesn't look like a yarn item and you probably don't want a yarn tank top either. The feel of that would be a lot different.

This reminds me of the time where a fancy catalog offered a "space dyed" rainbow mesh light jacket that I loved. But it cost a ridiculous amount of money for what it was (like $60 for something that you just wore as a light jacket and didn't really even cover the body in a non-see-through way) and for years I didn't buy it. I even tried to replicate it in yarn. Finally they decided not to sell it any more and it went on clearance for $40-something and I ordered it and...it was so sad, pathetic and terrible when I got it. Not rainbow pretty, just faded and sad and fit terribly. I immediately sent it back. Years of pining for this thing for nothing. But I guess I had to learn the hard way about it to get it out of my heart. On a related note, this summer I saw an amazing dress advertised online from a "buy from China scammy company" and I really wanted it, did not buy it, did not find anything even close to it. Sigh.

I can say that I've had to wear Shein clothing a few times for theater shows and it held up fine at least for the run of the show. If you really really really want it, you probably aren't going to find a better/reasonable substitute that satisfies you (I tried that too) and if you cave in and buy it, god knows it won't be much and you can see for yourself.
posted by jenfullmoon at 10:26 AM on July 16, 2023 [1 favorite]

I tried the fabric finder at Mood and found this. You might get results you like better if you try it yourself - I used pink, gray, and green as the colors. And I was really just thinking about colors. My main point is that it might be easier to find the right fabric and then hire a tailor to make the top for you. It doesn't look that complicated.

(My knowledge of Mood as a fabric store comes entirely from Project Runway. If you have a fabric store that's local to you, I'd start there.)

It's a very cute top, and I hope you can figure out how to duplicate it.
posted by FencingGal at 11:09 AM on July 16, 2023 [5 favorites]

Fairy Season (I don't know anything about them but they have come up in searches on fairy things) has sort of similar ones.
posted by warriorqueen at 11:30 AM on July 16, 2023

This other AskMe may be relevant to your interests.
posted by jenfullmoon at 11:36 AM on July 16, 2023 [1 favorite]

Not directly answering your question but you may enjoy this shopping guide which is a huge directory of ethical/sustainable clothing brands.
posted by stray at 11:50 AM on July 16, 2023 [3 favorites]

Found a dress that looks a lot like it, but different shoulders and neckline.
posted by kschang at 5:14 PM on July 16, 2023

This is a general problem of mine. Don't want to use Shein. But the variety and specific way they describe each style of each piece of clothing makes it FEEL like they could be found elsewhere, just not from so scummy a company. If people figure out a good alternative, I'd love to hear it.
posted by tiny frying pan at 5:29 AM on July 17, 2023 [1 favorite]

Take the photograph to a tailor and ask them how much they would charge to make you a version of it. The design is simple enough that someone who does sewing alterations from home could probably make you a version. The only difficulty would be getting a match for the fabric. Would you still like it if it had stripes in very different colors than the ones shown?
posted by Jane the Brown at 9:19 PM on July 18, 2023 [1 favorite]