Shein, the Chinese fast-fashion giant, completed the acquisition of US-based sustainable fashion brand Everlane for approximately $100 million on May 15, 2026, following approval from Everlane's board [1, 2, 3, 4]. Everlane CEO Alfred Chang confirmed the deal publicly on May 22 in a letter to employees [5, 6].

Founded in 2011 by Michael Preysman and Jesse Farmer, Everlane built a reputation for affordable, ethically sourced, and sustainable clothing as well as "radical transparency" in pricing and supply chains [5, 6, 1, 2, 3, 7]. Everlane struggled with declining sales and about $90 million in debt leading up to the sale [5, 1, 2, 3, 8, 4]. Private equity firm L Catterton, which became Everlane's majority owner in 2020, led the debt-driven sale to Shein [5, 6, 1, 2, 3, 9, 4].

Despite its fast-fashion business model, Shein will keep Everlane as an independent brand under CEO Alfred Chang and existing leadership [5, 8, 4]. Chang said, "This partnership allows us to remain independent, and gives us the stability and resources to make a larger impact, without compromising on the quality and standards that make Everlane, Everlane" [5]. He also stated Everlane will "stay true to our longstanding brand values, sustainability commitments, and exceptional quality" while gaining "expanded global reach, new capabilities, and greater opportunities" [8].

Shein is known for producing ultra-fast fashion amid environmental and ethical controversies, including 16.7 million metric tons of CO2 emissions in 2023 and legal challenges in the US over toxic substances and data privacy [7, 5, 6, 1, 2, 3, 9, 4]. The acquisition is seen as a way to diversify beyond fast fashion and improve Shein's brand image [9, 4]. However, Everlane’s customer base, which values sustainability and quality, may find Shein’s ownership surprising [5, 1, 2, 3, 8, 4].

San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins emphasized consumer rights, stating that companies must inform customers about shipping delays or refund options in compliance with California law or face legal action [1].

Everlane's history before the acquisition includes its founding in 2011 by Preysman and Farmer [5, 6, 1]. L Catterton acquired majority ownership starting in September 2020 [5, 6], and Preysman stepped down as CEO in 2022 [5].

Shein plans to provide Everlane with more stable resources and investment to support growth and a stronger global presence [5, 8, 4].