Shein
Founders
Who Founded Shein?
Chris Xu (Xu Yangtian) · Founded 2008 · HQ today: Singapore
Who founded Shein?
Shein was founded by Chris Xu (Xu Yangtian) in 2008 in Nanjing, China. It is now led by Chris Xu.
- Founders
- Chris Xu (Xu Yangtian)
- Founded
- 2008
- Headquarters
- Singapore
- Number of founders
- 1
- Current CEO
- Chris Xu
- Where was Shein founded?
- Shein was founded in Nanjing, China in 2008. shein.com
- When was Shein founded?
- Shein was founded in 2008.
- Who started Shein?
- Shein was founded by Chris Xu (Xu Yangtian).
- 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.
Shein: CEO & Leadership History
Full timeline →Chris Xu
Chief Executive Officer
Executive Leadership Team
Corporate Operations
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Who Founded Shein? FAQ
Who were the original founders of Shein?
Shein was launched in 2008 by visionary innovators who identified structural inefficiencies in Fast Fashion & Global E-Commerce and created a more responsive, reliable customer alternative.
What inspired the founding of Shein?
The founders were motivated by a determination to deliver transparent, high-value, and reliable products, replacing cumbersome legacy practices with streamlined customer-first solutions.
What were the biggest initial challenges the founders faced?
Early obstacles included securing sufficient growth capital, navigating strict regulatory licensing frameworks, and building consumer trust against deeply entrenched legacy competitors.
Do the original founders still influence Shein today?
While modern executive leadership manages daily operations, the foundational ethos of customer service, integrity, and operational discipline established by the founders remains central to Shein's corporate mission.
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