Shein Faces Domain Name Challenge in India as Fast-Fashion Giant Expands
Nov/21/2025
Shein’s rapid rise as the world’s largest online-only fashion retailer continues to attract legal entanglements, most recently illustrated by a UDRP dispute over sheinindia.com. In a ruling on November 10, 2025, WIPO ordered the transfer of the domain to Shein’s exclusive Indian licensee, NextGen Fast Fashion, after finding the registration — made a day before Shein’s first Indian trademark filing — was likely an opportunistic attempt to anticipate the brand’s entry into the market. The panel ruled that adding "india" did not remove confusing similarity to SHEIN and that eight years of passive holding supported a finding of bad faith. The decision underscores Shein’s aggressive enforcement posture as it cements dominance: a company valued at over $100 billion, powered by viral social-media-driven demand and light-touch U.S. import rules, yet shadowed by controversies over transparency, sustainability, and labor practices. With over 235 million global app downloads in 2024 and unrivaled U.S. fast-fashion market share, Shein’s brand strength continues to grow even as its legal challenges multiply.
