History of H&M in Timeline
H&M, or H & M Hennes & Mauritz AB, is a multinational clothing company headquartered in Sweden. Known for its fast-fashion clothing, the company had over 4,800 stores in 75 markets and employed over 107,000 people as of June 2022.
1947: H&M Founded
Erling Persson founded H&M under the name Hennes in 1947.
1947: First Store Opens
Erling Persson opened the first H&M store in Västerås, Sweden in 1947.
1964: International Expansion Begins
H&M opened a store in Norway in 1964, marking its first expansion outside of Sweden.
1968: Menswear Launch and Name Change
After acquiring hunting apparel retailer Mauritz Widforss, H&M added menswear to its product line and changed its name to Hennes & Mauritz in 1968.
1974: Stockholm Stock Exchange Listing
H&M was listed on the Stockholm Stock Exchange in 1974.
1976: Expansion Continues in London
H&M opened its first store outside Scandinavia in London in 1976.
1998: Online Retail Launch
H&M began retailing online in 1998 with the domain hm.com.
March 2000: First U.S. Store Opens
H&M opened its first U.S. store on Fifth Avenue in New York City in March 2000, which marked the beginning of the company's expansion outside of Europe.
March 2007: COS Flagship Store Launch
COS launched its flagship store on London's Regent Street in March 2007 with a catwalk show at the Royal Academy.
2008: Home Furnishings Launch
H&M announced it would begin selling home furnishings in 2008, which are now sold worldwide at H&M Home stores.
2009: Ranked Among Most Valuable Brands by Interbrand
In 2009, brand consultancy Interbrand ranked H&M as the twenty-first most-valuable global brand, with an estimated worth between $12 billion to $16 billion.
2010: Ranked Among Most Valuable Brands by Interbrand
In 2010, brand consultancy Interbrand ranked H&M as the twenty-first most-valuable global brand, with an estimated worth between $12 billion to $16 billion.
August 2011: Cambodian Factory Fainting Incident
Nearly 300 workers fainted in one week at a Cambodian factory supplying H&M in August 2011.
2011: Store Count at Year End
H&M operated 2,325 stores at the end of 2011.
2011: H&M Rejects Safety Proposal in Dhaka Meeting
In 2011, H&M, along with other major retailers, rejected a safety proposal put forth by labor groups at a meeting in Dhaka. The proposal aimed to improve garment factory conditions in Bangladesh by establishing independent inspections and giving inspectors the authority to shut down unsafe factories.
January 2012: H&M Launches Annual Design Award
In January 2012, H&M established the H&M Design Award, an annual prize aimed at recognizing and supporting emerging fashion designers. The award is intended to provide a platform for young talents to launch their careers in the fashion industry.
April 2012: Marks & Spencer's Clothing Collection Program
In April 2012, Marks & Spencer launched a clothes-collection voucher program in partnership with Oxfam.
August 2012: Store Count Reaches 2,629
By the end of August 2012, H&M was operating 2,629 stores.
2012: H&M Publishes Supplier List, Embracing Supply Chain Transparency
In a 2012 sustainability report, H&M took a step towards greater transparency by publishing a list of factories that supplied 95% of its garments, reflecting a growing trend among corporations to embrace ethically transparent supply chains.
January 2013: Allegations of Forced Labor in Uzbekistan Emerge Against H&M
In January 2013, The Ecologist reported allegations from Anti-Slavery International accusing H&M of being complicit in the use of forced labor, including child labor, in Uzbekistan's cotton industry. These allegations raised serious concerns about H&M's supply chain practices.
February 2013: Used Garment Voucher Program Launch
In February 2013, H&M began offering customers a voucher in exchange for used garments.
April 2013: Rana Plaza Building Collapse in Bangladesh Kills Over 1,100, Highlighting Garment Industry Risks
In April 2013, the Rana Plaza building in Bangladesh, which housed garment factories, collapsed, resulting in the deaths of over 1,100 people, mostly garment workers. The tragic incident, considered the deadliest garment factory disaster in history, brought to light the hazardous conditions and lack of safety measures prevalent in the industry.
May 2013: Textile Factory Collapse in Cambodia Raises Concerns over H&M's Supplier Safety Standards
In May 2013, a textile factory in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, which produced garments for H&M, collapsed, injuring several people. This incident raised further concerns about the safety conditions in H&M's supplier factories and the adequacy of industrial safety regulations.
September 2013: 3000th Store Opens
H&M opened its 3000th store in Chengdu, China in September 2013.
November 2013: H&M Pledges to Pay Living Wages to Textile Workers by 2018
In November 2013, H&M committed to paying a "living wage" to all textile workers in its supply chain by 2018. This decision came as a response to concerns over poor working conditions and low wages in Asian countries where H&M sources its garments.
2013: Family Donates to H&M Foundation
The Persson family has made contributions to the H&M Foundation since 2013, donating SEK1.1 billion (US$154 million).
April 2014: Sustainable Supply Chain Initiative
H&M joined Zara and other apparel companies in making changes to their supply chains in April 2014 to avoid sourcing from endangered forests.
2014: H&M Foundation Established
The H&M Foundation, a nonprofit, was established in 2014 to fund projects that improve humanitarian and environmental issues in the fashion industry.
August 2015: Global Change Award Launch
The H&M Foundation announced it would award the Global Change Award in August 2015, a million-euro annual prize to advance recycling technology within the fashion industry.
September 2015: CleanClothes.org Reports Lack of Fire Safety Improvements in H&M Supplier Factories
In September 2015, CleanClothes.org, a labor rights organization, reported that H&M had failed to make adequate fire safety renovations in its supplier factories, raising concerns about the company's commitment to worker safety and its adherence to safety standards.
January 2016: H&M Pulls Controversial Scarf in Israel
In January 2016, H&M faced criticism and subsequently removed a scarf from its Israeli stores. The scarf, designed with beige and dark blue stripes, drew accusations of resembling a tallit, a Jewish prayer shawl, and was deemed offensive by some.
June 2016: SumOfUs Launches Campaign Urging H&M to Fulfill Safety Commitments in Bangladesh
In June 2016, SumOfUs, an advocacy organization, launched a campaign to pressure H&M to honor its commitment to improving factory safety in Bangladesh following the Rana Plaza disaster. They alleged that H&M was lagging behind in addressing safety hazards in its supplier factories.
2016: "H&M Details" Concept Launch
A hoarding for a new H&M concept labeled "H&M Details" was put up at The Dubai Mall in 2016.
February 2017: Report Exposes Child Labor in H&M's Myanmar Supply Chain
In February 2017, The Guardian revealed that children were found working in factories producing H&M products in Myanmar, where they were being paid less than half the legal minimum wage, raising serious ethical concerns about H&M's labor practices.
April 2017: H&M Linked to Alleged Forced Labor in Xinjiang Through Huafu Top Dyed Melange Yarn Co. Ltd.
Between April 2017 and June 2018, 2,048 Uyghur workers were transported from Hotan Prefecture in Xinjiang to 15 factories in Anhui Province, including a Huafu factory, raising concerns about their involvement in forced labor. H&M's listing of Huafu as a supplier during this period drew scrutiny and allegations of benefiting from forced Uyghur labor.
2017: New Concept Store Launch
H&M founded a new concept store, Arket, in 2017.
June 2018: Allegations of Forced Labor in Xinjiang Surface, Linking H&M to Huafu Top Dyed Melange Yarn Co. Ltd.
By June 2018, evidence suggested that Uyghur workers were being transferred to factories in Anhui Province, including one owned by Huafu, raising concerns about potential forced labor practices. H&M's business relationship with Huafu during this period came under scrutiny, leading to accusations of profiting from these unethical labor practices.
2018: H&M's 2013 Pledge for Living Wages Remains Unfulfilled, Raising Questions About Ethical Sourcing Practices.
Despite their pledge in 2013 to ensure living wages for all textile workers by 2018, it remains unclear if these commitments have been met, raising concerns about transparency and accountability within H&M's supply chain.
September 2019: Leather Purchase Halt
In response to the 2019 Amazon rainforest wildfires, H&M halted its leather purchases from Brazil in September 2019.
2019: H&M Foundation Funding Increases
The H&M Foundation's financing for 2019 development increased by 7% to US$17 million, according to the OECD.
September 2020: H&M Halts Xinjiang Cotton Purchases Over Forced Labor Concerns
Amidst international concerns regarding forced labor in Xinjiang, H&M announced in September 2020 that it would stop sourcing cotton from the region. The decision came after reports from various organizations and media outlets alleging forced labor and discrimination against ethnic minorities in Xinjiang's cotton industry.
September 2020: H&M Cuts Ties with Huafu Amidst Forced Labor Allegations, Denies Direct Business Relationship
In September 2020, following accusations of forced labor, H&M announced the termination of its relationship with Huafu, a Chinese yarn producer. However, H&M denied any direct business dealings with the specific Huafu factory in Anhui province where Uyghur workers were allegedly subjected to forced labor.
October 2020: Store Closures Planned
In October 2020, H&M announced that it was planning to close 5% of its worldwide stores in 2021 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2020: Australian Strategic Policy Institute Accuses H&M of Ties to Forced Uyghur Labor in Xinjiang
In 2020, the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) released a report identifying 82 major brands, including H&M, as having connections to alleged forced Uyghur labor in Xinjiang. The report specifically named H&M as a customer of Huafu Top Dyed Melange Yarn Co. Ltd., a company accused of using forced labor.
February 2021: Labor Groups Urge H&M to Divest from Myanmar Following Coup and Abuse Allegations
In February 2021, following a military coup in Myanmar, labor groups urged H&M to divest from the country due to concerns over labor rights abuses in factories producing H&M clothing. Reports of physical abuse and lack of accountability from employers surfaced, prompting calls for action.
March 2021: H&M Faces Backlash in China Over Xinjiang Cotton Stance, Leading to Boycotts and Removal from Platforms
H&M's stance on Xinjiang cotton sparked outrage and calls for boycotts in China in March 2021. The company's products were pulled from major e-commerce sites, its app was removed from app stores, and brand ambassadors in China cut ties with the company.
March 2021: H&M's Stance on Xinjiang Cotton Draws Criticism from China's Communist Youth League
In March 2021, after the EU, UK, US, and Canada imposed sanctions against China over human rights abuses in Xinjiang, H&M's commitment to avoiding forced labor in Xinjiang and its decision not to source cotton from the region was criticized by the Communist Youth League of China on Weibo, accusing the company of hypocrisy.
March 2021: China Defends Xinjiang Cotton Industry, US Condemns China-Backed Boycotts
In response to international criticism, China released a video in March 2021 showcasing automation in its cotton-picking processes and featuring Uyghur workers praising the industry. The US condemned the boycotts against H&M and other companies, viewing them as retaliation for taking a stand against forced labor in Xinjiang.
April 2021: Maisie Williams Becomes Sustainability Ambassador
Actress Maisie Williams joined H&M as a global sustainability ambassador in April 2021.
May 2021: Clothing Rental Service Launch
H&M announced a temporary rental clothing service in May 2021, allowing men to rent suits for up to 24 hours for job interviews.
2021: H&M Works to Rebuild Trust in China Amidst Xinjiang Controversy, Sales Decline
Following the backlash in China, H&M issued a statement in 2021 expressing its commitment to regaining the trust of its Chinese customers. The company also reported a significant decline in sales in China, highlighting the impact of the controversy on its business.
2021: "The Billion Dollar Collection" Launch
H&M Foundation launched a virtual clothing collection, "The Billion Dollar Collection," in 2021 that featured ten sustainable fashion innovation startups.
2021: Store Closures and Online Shift
H&M closed 250 stores worldwide in 2021 and moved a majority of its operations online, resulting in a −34% year-over-year sales growth from 2020.
2021: Russia as a Key Market
Russia was H&M's sixth-biggest market in the fourth quarter of 2021, representing 4% of group sales.
June 2022: H&M Group Market Size
As of June 2022, H&M Group operated in 75 geographical markets with 4,801 stores under the various company brands, with 107,375 full-time equivalent positions.
August 2022: H&M Resumes Sales in China After Facing Backlash Over Xinjiang Cotton Stance
In August 2022, H&M resumed its sales in China, over a year after facing a severe backlash and boycotts due to its stance on sourcing cotton from Xinjiang. The move suggested a potential easing of tensions between the company and the Chinese market.
December 2023: H&M Operates 24 Stores in Israel
By December 2023, H&M expanded its presence to 24 stores across Israel, primarily concentrated around the Gush Dan region.
2023: Ukraine Store Closures Remain
H&M's stores in Ukraine remain closed as of 2023.
January 2024: CEO Change
Daniel Erver replaced former CEO Helena Helmersson as H&M's CEO in January 2024.
January 2024: H&M Australia Criticized for School Uniform Ad
H&M's Australian branch faced backlash in January 2024 for a school uniform advertisement featuring the slogan "Make those heads turn in H&M’s Back to School fashion". Critics, including Australian writer Melinda Tankard Reist, raised concerns about the ad's message and its potential impact on young girls. The company responded by removing the advertisement and issuing an apology.
2030: Sustainable Materials Goal
H&M aims to use only recycled or sustainably sourced materials by 2030.
2030: H&M Sets Goal for Fair Living Wages Throughout Supply Chain by 2030
H&M has joined the Fair Labour Association (FLA) and aims to achieve fair living wages for workers across its entire supply chain by 2030, demonstrating a commitment to improving labor standards.
