Chinese fast fashion app Shein has re-entered the Indian market nearly five years after being banned, partnering with Indian conglomerate Reliance Retail.
A Reliance Retail official, speaking anonymously to the media, confirmed that the company has secured a long-term licensing agreement with Shein’s parent firm to sell products sourced and manufactured in India. However, an official announcement is yet to be made.
The app was among dozens of Chinese platforms, including TikTok, banned by India in 2020 due to data security concerns following a border clash between Indian and Chinese troops in the Himalayas.
Shein relaunched in India on Friday night and has already been downloaded over 10,000 times. Currently, deliveries are limited to Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru, but the service is expected to expand nationwide soon, according to an app notification.
Before its ban, Shein had gained massive popularity in India by offering trendy, affordable fashion, leaving a gap in the market that local retailers later filled.
Industry experts note that Shein’s collaboration with Reliance Retail—owned by billionaire Mukesh Ambani—marks a shift in Reliance’s strategy, which previously focused on selling international brands through its Ajio platform.
Under the agreement, Reliance Retail will have full operational and data control, while Shein will serve as a technology partner, Goyal explained in parliament. He emphasized that while the app was banned in India, the sale of Shein-branded products was not.
Additionally, Shein plans to use India as a manufacturing hub for its global supply chain, assisting Reliance in developing a network and training garment manufacturers to boost Indian textile exports, a Reliance official said.
Shein’s return through this deal is a rare exception to India’s ban on over 200 Chinese apps in recent years. Indian authorities had cited concerns over unauthorized data transmission when blocking platforms such as TikTok and PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG).
However, PUBG later made a comeback as Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI) under Krafton India, following a similar rebranding strategy.
