Construction of H&M

H&M, short for Hennes & Mauritz, is a Swedish fashion retailer that began in 1947 when Erling Persson opened a women's clothing store called Hennes, meaning hers in Swedish, in Västerås. In 1968 Persson bought the hunting and sports clothing shop Mauritz Widforss in Stockholm, and the company took the name Hennes & Mauritz, adding men's and children's clothing to its range. The company expanded into Norway and Denmark in the 1960s and then across Europe and the world, becoming known for fast fashion that offered current styles at low prices. It runs thousands of stores in dozens of countries and has also faced criticism over labor conditions in its supply chain and the environmental impact of rapid clothing production. Control remains with the Persson family.

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