Georgia Toffolo cuts contract with Shein after she was branded ‘exploitative’ by charities

Former I’m a Celebrity winner Georgia Toffolo has canceled her contract with Shein after she was labeled ‘exploitative’ by charities over her deal with the Chinese fast fashion outlet.

Miss Toffolo 28 has released three collections since first collaborating with the label in 2020.

She often promotes the brand to her 1.7 million Instagram followers. Her most recent, posted on October 14, shows her sculpting a pleated floral midi dress for a high-end florist in Belgravia, London.

Severing ties: Former I’m a Celebrity winner Georgia Toffolo has canceled her contract with Shein after she was labeled ‘exploitative’ by charities over her deal with the fast fashion outlet

Promotion: She often promotes the brand to her 1.7 million Instagram followers. Her most recent, posted on October 14, shows her modeling a midi dress for a high-end florist

A spokesperson for Miss Toffolo told the Mail: “Georgia has terminated her contract and partnership with Shein and will no longer work with them.”

The decision comes after a scathing Channel 4 documentary found that workers in Shein’s factories are paid just 3 pence an hour.

Miss Toffolo was urged to think “long and hard” about the brand she supported through environmental and slavery charities.

Maria Chenoweth, CEO of the environmental organization Textile Reuse and International Development (TRAID), said there was “no human need” for Ms. Toffolo, who also promotes skincare brand Dermalogica and Walker’s Sensations chips, to partner with Shein.

Collaborating: Miss Toffolo 28, has released three collections since the label’s first collaboration in 2020

She told the Mail: ‘She doesn’t have to do it! Toffolo has no human need to promote ultra-fast fashion, and if she does it right, she can only be considered incredibly unfriendly to those exploited all over the world by fast fashion brands.

Shein is a faceless ATM in China, for some money that… [Katy] Perry and [Avril] Lavigne probably doesn’t need them to continue with the media to perpetuate a harmful fast fashion frenzy.” Singer Katy Perry released a collection with the ultra-fast fashion brand last year, while musician Avril Lavigne headlined the company’s F/W 2022 runway show last month.

Meg Lewis, campaign manager for Labor Behind the Label, which fights for workers’ rights in the clothing industry, said: “Influencers should think long and hard about what they actually endorse.

Posing: Pictured in the brand’s clothing, Toff’s decision comes after a damning Channel 4 documentary discovered that workers in Shein’s factories are paid just 3p an hour

“Is Georgia really happy to be the face of a company that sells clothes to workers who work 18 hours a day, with only one day off a month, just to make ends meet?”

She also warned that the ultra-fast fashion model relied on the exploitation of cheap labor and that the cheap clothes are usually worn once or not at all before going to landfill.

Valued at $100 billion (£78 billion) earlier this year – more than Zara and H&M combined – Shein has grown exponentially, serving Gen Z customers by offering copies of high-quality clothing at throw-away prices.

A recent undercover investigation by Channel 4 found that workers in Shein’s factories were given only one day off a month and were fined up to three quarters of their daily income if they made a mistake.

A Shein spokesperson said at the time that they were “extremely concerned” about Channel 4’s claims and promised they would end working with suppliers that do not meet their standards.

Socialite: Miss Toffolo, who was educated at Blundell’s £41,325 a year school in Tiverton, Devon, revealed in 2020 that she charges around £5,600 per sponsored post

“We have requested specific information from Channel 4 so that we can investigate,” she added.

Miss Toffolo, a close friend of Stanley Johnson who was educated at the £41,325 a year Blundell school in Tiverton, Devon, revealed in 2020 that she charges around £5,600 per sponsored post.

“I only promote things that I like,” she told MailOnline at the time.

Katrina Caspelich, director of marketing at Remake, which fights for fair pay in the apparel industry, encouraged the public to hold celebrities like Miss Toffolo accountable “for their partnership choices.”

“They need to remember that celebrities are the ones who choose to promote these fast fashion partnerships and they are not out of necessity. And whatever partnership they enter into says a lot about their values,” she said.

Fair fashion campaigner Venetia La Manna, who denounced Miss Toffolo on Instagram last week, said an important conversation needed to be had about “highly privileged, wealthy celebrities and influencers entering into partnerships they frankly don’t need, especially when it comes to people.” and planet’.

In addition to anti-slavery charities, she also urged the reality star to learn more about the conditions for those who work in the factories, share these findings with her followers and “publicly cut ties with Shein.”

Sian Lea, Business and Human Rights Manager at Anti-Slavery International said profiting from the “severe exploitation of people… must stop.”

Former winner: Made In Chelsea star Georgia was crowned Queen of the Jungle in 2017 on I’m A Celebrity