H&M was founded in Västerås, Sweden, in 1947 as Hennes.
Erling Persson opened the first store with a women’s clothing focus. The Swedish word “Hennes” means “hers,” reflecting the company’s original women-only merchandise. The business later expanded into menswear after acquiring Mauritz Widforss in 1968.
That acquisition led to the name Hennes & Mauritz, commonly shortened to H&M. The retailer subsequently developed an international fast-fashion model, offering frequently changing collections through stores and online channels. H&M’s original name is sometimes confused with the later corporate name, but Hennes was the brand used at its 1947 launch.