Shein attempts to mend its public image before its London debut

Haute couture and fast fashion are worlds apart. One showcases garments hand-stitched by the industry’s most skilled artisans at esteemed fashion houses. The other churns out low-cost but trendy styles at a frenetic pace. Occasionally, though, these worlds compete for attention. As designers gather for London Fashion Week, a four-day spectacle of runway shows and celebrity parties starting on February 20th, some of the industry gossip will be about Shein, a fast-fashion giant. Specifically, when might it launch its long-awaited initial public offering (IPO)?