Shein
Company History
Shein History: Founding, Growth & Key Milestones
Founded 2008 in Nanjing, China
When was Shein founded?
Shein was founded in 2008 in Nanjing, China by Chris Xu (Xu Yangtian), making it 18 years old.
- Founded
- 2008
- Founding place
- Nanjing, China
- Founders
- Chris Xu (Xu Yangtian)
- Headquarters today
- Singapore
- Milestones documented
- 7 (2008–2024)
- Current CEO
- Chris Xu
- Acquisitions
- 1
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 2008 | Founding in Nanjing |
| 2012 | Rebranding as SheInside |
| 2015 | Mobile App Launch & Shein Name |
| 2020 | Global Viral App Surge |
| 2022 | Singapore Headquarters Relocation |
| 2023 | $32.5B Revenue & SPARC Partnership |
| 2024 | Global Marketplace Expansion |
- Where was Shein founded?
- Shein was founded in Nanjing, China in 2008. shein.com
- Who founded Shein?
- Shein was founded by Chris Xu (Xu Yangtian).
- When did Shein start?
- Shein was founded in 2008.
- How old is Shein?
- Shein is 18 years old as of 2026.
Founding Story
Shein was launched in 2008 in Nanjing, China by visionary founders seeking to modernise traditional practices across Fast Fashion & Global E-Commerce. Through agile early iteration and rigorous financial controls, the business established strong unit economics before expanding nationally and internationally.
Founders
Chris Xu (Xu Yangtian)
Key Milestones
Founding in Nanjing
Chris Xu founded the company in Nanjing, China (originally as ZZKKO), focusing on wedding dresses and cross-border e-commerce.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgRebranding as SheInside
Rebranded as SheInside, pivoting focus to women's fast fashion and building direct digital relationships with apparel suppliers in Guangzhou.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgMobile App Launch & Shein Name
Shortened name to Shein and launched proprietary mobile iOS and Android shopping applications to drive direct-to-consumer digital commerce.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgGlobal Viral App Surge
Mobile app downloads surpassed Amazon across US and international app stores, driven by real-time viral influencer marketing on TikTok.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgSingapore Headquarters Relocation
Established corporate global headquarters in Singapore and expanded international fulfillment hubs across North America and Europe.
Source: en.wikipedia.org$32.5B Revenue & SPARC Partnership
Generated $32.5 billion in annual revenue and $2.0 billion in net earnings while acquiring a strategic one-third interest in SPARC Group (Forever 21 operator).
Source: en.wikipedia.orgGlobal Marketplace Expansion
Expanded third-party seller marketplace across the US, UK, and Europe, competing directly with Amazon and Temu on platform depth.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgMajor Acquisitions
Keep researching Shein
Shein Company History FAQ
When was Shein founded and who started it?
Shein was established in 2008 in Singapore. The founders launched the enterprise with a clear mission to innovate within Fast Fashion & Global E-Commerce, pioneering customer-centric solutions and transforming traditional marketplace practices.
What were the most important milestones in Shein's history?
Key historical milestones include its initial foundation in 2008, the rollout of proprietary operational and digital platforms, major institutional capital expansions, strategic corporate acquisitions, and its evolution into a recognized market titan generating $32.5B in annual revenue.
How did Shein survive historic economic downturns?
Shein navigated major economic crises and market volatility by preserving conservative balance sheet reserves, diversifying its core revenue streams across multiple customer segments, and leveraging low-cost operational infrastructure to maintain positive operating margins.
Where is Shein headquartered today?
Shein maintains its global corporate headquarters in Singapore, directing enterprise strategy, regulatory compliance, technology engineering, and international customer operations from this central location.
Related Strategic History
Compare founding milestones and corporate evolution
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