Katrin Benhold

From The New York Times, I'm Katrin Benhold. This is The Daily.

From The New York Times, I'm Katrin Benhold. This is The Daily.

For years, American consumers have been able to spend next to nothing on the latest fashion trends.

For years, American consumers have been able to spend next to nothing on the latest fashion trends.

If you want to be a baddie on a budget, Shein is the way to go. Thanks in large part to Chinese clothing companies like Shein.

If you want to be a baddie on a budget, Shein is the way to go. Thanks in large part to Chinese clothing companies like Shein.

That have long used a loophole to send millions of packages a day into the U.S. from China, tax-free. But now... President Trump is killing that loophole, even as he de-escalates his larger trade war with China.

That have long used a loophole to send millions of packages a day into the U.S. from China, tax-free. But now... President Trump is killing that loophole, even as he de-escalates his larger trade war with China.

And prices are going up.

And prices are going up.

Today, I talk with my colleague Megan Tobin about whether this might be the end of fast fashion. It's Thursday, May 15th.

Today, I talk with my colleague Megan Tobin about whether this might be the end of fast fashion. It's Thursday, May 15th.

Megan, welcome to the show. Thanks for having me. So I know you've been reporting on Shein and other fast fashion companies for many years, but I can reveal to you that I am also an expert on the subject because I have a teenage daughter who spends a lot of her time and pocket money on Shein. And I did my research before coming on today and asked her about her latest haul.

Megan, welcome to the show. Thanks for having me. So I know you've been reporting on Shein and other fast fashion companies for many years, but I can reveal to you that I am also an expert on the subject because I have a teenage daughter who spends a lot of her time and pocket money on Shein. And I did my research before coming on today and asked her about her latest haul.

Tell me what she bought. So she got a lot of things. Wait for it. She got a bikini for $5, a jewelry box for $2.60, a phone case for $2, a tube top for $2, a couple of tank tops for $4 each, a claw clip for just under a dollar. And I think the single most expensive thing on her receipt was actually a pair of jean shorts for like $6. It's kind of insane. That sounds like a classic Shein haul.

Tell me what she bought. So she got a lot of things. Wait for it. She got a bikini for $5, a jewelry box for $2.60, a phone case for $2, a tube top for $2, a couple of tank tops for $4 each, a claw clip for just under a dollar. And I think the single most expensive thing on her receipt was actually a pair of jean shorts for like $6. It's kind of insane. That sounds like a classic Shein haul.

And I'm really wondering, how can they keep it this cheap?

And I'm really wondering, how can they keep it this cheap?

And it's still closed, even though China and the U.S. passed their super high tariffs earlier this week?

And it's still closed, even though China and the U.S. passed their super high tariffs earlier this week?