The ‘Singapore-washing’ strategy starts to unwind as both China and the U.S. closely scrutinize corporate roots

Fast-fashion giant Shein recently made headlines after its elusive founder made a rare public appearance in a live-streamed speech which reaffirmed the company’s Chinese roots.

“Guangdong’s complete industrial ecosystem and first-class business environment have made Shein’s fast growth possible,” founder Chris Xu told the crowd on Feb. 24, at a forum hosted by the Guangdong provincial government. He boasted that Shein currently supports over 600,000 jobs in the Chinese province, and...