Shopper finds Shein clothes in Far East Plaza boutique, but influencer-owner has 'no idea' how they got there
An influencer-owned fashion boutique is under scrutiny after a shopper purportedly discovered Shein clothing among its racks.
Stomper Anonymous was at La Beaute By Sara at Far East Plaza when she noticed a yellow top that had a Shein label.
The boutique was founded by Singapore-based fashion influencer Sara Bulatovic, who has over 111,000 followers on Instagram.
"The shop preaches about carrying limited-edition pieces sourced from established manufacturers," said Anonymous, who wonders if that is really the case.
The Stomper added: "When asked about the clothes, the owner states they're high quality and luxurious.
"How is it possible a normal crop top from Shein would be $139?"
Anonymous shared photos of the boutique's online catalogue and Instagram posts, which she compared to similar clothing items that can be found on Shein.
One of the products alleged to be from Shein was a $34.99 yellow dress, which was listed on the boutique's website with the same cover image and priced at $189.
Similarly, a red embroidered dress listed on Shein for $28.43 was sold by the boutique for $189.90.
Clothes displayed on the boutique's Instagram page can also be found on Shein.
The posts and catalogue listings have since been taken down.
In response to a Stomp query, Sara Bulatovic said the Stomper's information about her brand and sourcing practices is "inaccurate and misleading."
Sara explained: "La Beaute by Sara is a legally registered business-to-consumer retail business.
"I source ready-made fashion pieces from reputable and experienced suppliers, primarily in Istanbul, Italy, and long-established European-owned factories in China.
"I have direct relationships with manufacturers in Turkey, China, invoices, details, and more.
"I travel regularly to personally curate each collection, or order it, which is openly on my social media."
Sara denied the claims of purchasing Shein clothing, saying: "The images and assumptions made in the materials you may have received are not only false but also damaging. None of my products are purchased from Shein.
"I have documentation to support this, including purchase invoices, flight itineraries, supplier contracts, and direct confirmation from my manufacturers - many of whom have been in the industry for over 30 years and are widely recognised."
"Furthermore, it's worth noting that, in today's global market, it's not uncommon for designs to be replicated.
"Any similarities in imagery or design are a result of a well-known issue in the fashion industry: design replication by manufacturers. This affects even the biggest names in luxury fashion.
"When something becomes trendy, it's often copied across multiple markets, especially by manufacturers in China. This is nothing new, and most people, especially those familiar with fashion and buying clothes, understand that.
She also shared issues she has had with impersonators: "We've had fake accounts impersonating my brand, including Facebook pages and Instagram duplicates.
"These tactics, combined with manipulated screenshots, make it dangerously easy for someone to spread false impressions online.
"Most can tell if the account is fake, so it wasn't a big deal. Nobody paid attention to that and those profiles were removed after reports by my team."
Sara defended her image and said: "I hold a Master's Degree in International Fashion Business, and I was invited by the vice president of LVMH to Fashion Week."
LVMH is the parent company of many luxury brands, including Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior and Marc Jacobs.
"I've also spent the past three years volunteering in efforts to support children through a local organisation, supported by Halimah Yacob," Sara told Stomp.
"I have been in Singapore for six years, and am currently undertaking another level of education at Harvard University.
"I don't share this to seek recognition, only to provide context: I am not the kind of person who would engage in unethical or deceptive business."
When asked about Shein products being found in her boutique, Sara said she has "no idea" what happened.
"For over two years, my store has not received a single complaint of this kind. I have never knowingly purchased any products from Shein, nor have I ever re-branded any Shein product," she reiterated.
"I can't comment on the veracity of the images. Were they photoshopped? No idea.
"Did Shein steal the designs from my Turkish manufacturers, mass-manufacture them, and others create the impression that I am re-branding Shein, when it is the other way around?
"Does one of my three Chinese manufacturers have a relationship with Shein and released their designs to them and then inadvertently shipped me products which they were illicitly manufacturing for Shein?
"I honestly have no idea. I don't check every single item that arrives in a shipment.
"It is cheaper for me to source from a Chinese manufacturer than a Chinese retailer, even ultra-high-volume retailers such as Shein."
Sara also said: "Income derived from La Beaute by Sara is quite incidental to me.
"I am just not that sort of person to try to make a few hundred dollars here and there from re-branding Shein products."
However, Anonymous did not quite buy Sara's explanation.
"If her response was true, why would she remove those catalogue listings and social media posts?" asked the Stomper, who feels that paper qualifications have nothing to do with integrity.
"Formality aside, she needs to stop boasting about her life, indicating she's reliable with degrees.
Stomp visited La Beaute By Sara at Far East Plaza on June 26, but it was closed.
We also went to Therapy Market at Wheelock Place, which stocks La Beaute By Sara.
We found apparel from various fashion labels such as Gizzly Plus, a wholesale factory in Turkey, and L'amazone. However, there was no Shein.
Each item of clothing was attached with a tag that read: "Curated styles from trusted manufacturers. We don't manufacture."
