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In focus
- Meeting Shein at a very Chinese time in its life
- How Singapore’s WhyQ pivoted to profit with corporate catering
- Check out our coverage on how the Gulf War is impacting Asia tech
Hello reader,
While I’m no fashionista nor a shopaholic, Shein has been one of the most fascinating companies to follow since I joined Tech in Asia in 2022.
Back then, the ultra-fast fashion giant appeared to have cracked the code to supply chain domination with its mastery of its supply base, data, and negotiating power. The firm looked like it was well on its way to a blockbuster New York IPO as it threaded the needle between its strong ties to China and its desire to access Western capital markets.
How quickly and dramatically things can change, as today’s first featured story explains. Regular Insights writer Ivy Yang dives into how, after facing scrutiny in New York and London, Shein is now seemingly embracing its Chinese roots as it positions itself for a Hong Kong IPO.
Her piece explores why Shein’s long-running attempt to position itself as a “global company” may have reached its breaking point. As geopolitical tensions rise, firms built on Chinese industrial ecosystems are finding it harder to sustain that strategic ambiguity.
Meanwhile, Miguel Cordon looks at how Singapore-based WhyQ turned a pandemic pivot into a profitable business. The firm shifted from consumer hawker deliveries to a B2B catering model, and it could potentially bring its business abroad.
Finally, we round up the stories we’ve published on how the conflict in the Middle East has affected Asia’s wider tech scene.
Here’s what you need to know.
Peter Cowan, engagement editor
Top Stories
1️⃣ Shein tried to shed China. Its IPO now hinges on embracing it
A Shein advertisement board in a shopping mall in Malaysia / Photo credit: Marius Karp / Shutterstock
Shein is one of many companies that attempted the “China-shedding” strategy, which aims to reduce perceived ties with China and lower political and regulatory risk in global markets. It’s also proven to be at least somewhat effective for the likes of TikTok and Temu, but cracks are starting to show.
What the Gulf War means for tech in Asia
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