Erling Persson established H&M in Sweden in 1947 as Hennes.
Persson opened the first Hennes store in Västerås, selling women’s clothing. The Swedish word “Hennes” means “hers,” reflecting the store’s original women-only focus. In 1968, the company acquired the hunting and menswear retailer Mauritz Widforss, adding men’s clothing and changing the name to Hennes & Mauritz.
The abbreviated name H&M became the global retail brand. The company expanded internationally through large-scale stores, frequent collections, and collaborations with designers and fashion houses. A common mistake is saying H&M began as a men’s and women’s retailer; its first business served women only. The company’s legal name remains H & M Hennes & Mauritz AB, even though its public branding is usually shortened to H&M.