H&M History
H&M was founded in 1947 by Erling Persson, who opened his first store in Västerås, Sweden, selling women’s clothing. The store was called Hennes, which means “hers” in Swedish. In 1968, Persson acquired the hunting apparel retailer Mauritz Widforss in Stockholm, and the name of the company was changed to Hennes & Mauritz to reflect the expanded product range. The company began selling men’s clothing in 1968 and children’s clothing in 1973.
H&M quickly expanded beyond Scandinavia, opening its first store outside the region in London in 1976. Today, H&M has over 4,800 stores in 75 countries around the world. It is the second-largest international clothing retailer after Inditex.
Amazing Facts About H&M
- H&M was the first fashion retailer to offer a designer collection, when it collaborated with Karl Lagerfeld in 2004.
- H&M has collaborated with a number of other high-profile designers, including Stella McCartney, Viktor & Rolf, and Madonna.
- H&M is known for its fast-fashion business model, which allows the company to quickly bring new trends to market at low prices.
- H&M is also known for its commitment to sustainability. The company has made a number of initiatives to reduce its environmental impact, such as using recycled materials and reducing water consumption.
- H&M is the second-largest employer in Sweden, after the Swedish government.
Some other Interesting Facts about H&M:
- H&M’s logo was designed by Erling Persson himself in 1947.
- H&M’s first store outside of Sweden was opened in Norway in 1964.
- H&M’s first store in the United States was opened in New York City in 2000.
- H&M’s largest store in the world is located in Shanghai, China.
- H&M’s online store was launched in 2007.
- H&M donates a portion of its profits to charity each year.
H&M is a popular brand among consumers around the world because it offers stylish and affordable clothing for the entire family. The company is also known for its commitment to sustainability.
