Despite the growing influence of fast-fashion giant Shein, downtown Kingston vendors say they aren't going anywhere, insisting that their loyal customers will keep coming back for the in-person shopping experience. "Downtown will always have its customers, no matter how much people are shopping on Shein," said popular vendor and rising dancehall artiste Deborah 'Debbie Burp' Darby. "Christmas come once a year, and me and mi friend dem out here a sell," she said, gesturing towards a row of colourful stalls packed with baby clothes, comforters and flowers.
"I don't really think it (Shein) affect the sales down here. Shein a do them thing, and we a do our thing inna town. Because Shein cheap, people will go online and order, but 'down a town' a 'down a town.
'" Darby, like many of her peers, acknowledges Shein's allure, but believes the tangible shopping experience trumps convenience. "Me buy things offa Shein too, enuh, but [to buy] traditional things, yuh haffi come dung a town." For vendors like Princess, who has been selling downtown for over four decades, Shein is just more competition in an already-crowded marketplace.
"Shein sell a lot of decoration things weh people a buy, but the Chiney man sell it too, so we always have competition," she explained as she arranged her flower display. "Me have my customers weh nah leave me out. Them want unique things, and sometimes Shein things nuh really nice.
It nuh really worth it, fi how people a kill up themselves." But Kadeen 'Guzz.