Shein at BHV Marais: opening this Wednesday under police surveillance of the first permanent store

It's official: Shein is opening its first ever permanent physical store in the world on Wednesday, November 5, 2025, at 1 p.m., and it's in Paris. The Chinese fast-fashion giant is set to set up shop on the sixth floor of BHV Marais, the historic temple of Parisian shopping. The space, covering more than 1,000 square meters, will offer thousands of items at low prices, announced Société des Grands Magasins (SGM) on Instagram, owner ofBHV since 2023.

Presented as a "world first" by Frédéric Merlin, president of SGM, this opening is taking place in a tumultuous climate. On Tuesday, dozens of police officers and vans were deployed around the department store, opposite the Town Hall, to prevent any disturbances.

For several days, protests and activist actions have been ongoing. On Monday, the Mouv'Enfants association and Femen protested in front of the BHV department store, denouncing the sale of child-like sex dolls, which were reported to the authorities by the DGCCRF. These products have since been withdrawn, but the controversy has taken on national proportions, prompting Economy Minister Roland Lescure to threaten to ban Shein in France if it happens again.

The arrival of the Chinese giant is far from unanimous. From the government to the BHV unions, not to mention French textile players, criticism is rife. A petitionwith over 110, 000 signatures is calling for the cancellation of the partnership between Shein and BHV. At the same time, several brands have left the department store, and Banque des Territoires has withdrawn its offer to buy the premises, valued at €300 million. These reactions illustrate the growing unease surrounding the brand's economic and environmental model, which is often criticized for its low-cost production.

• To be read
• This Week's Best Deals in Paris and Île-de-France, March 23-29, 2026

Founded in 2012 in China, the brand has been fined three times in France for a total of €191 million for false advertising, misleading information, non-compliance with cookie legislation, and failure to declare plastic microfibers in its clothing, according to Fashion United.

Despite the controversy, Shein is continuing its expansion, with five new stores in France planned for November in Galeries Lafayette in Dijon, Reims, Grenoble, Angers, and Limoges.

This page may contain AI-assisted elements, more information here.