H&M is the Swedish fashion brand known for affordable clothing that was founded in 1947.
Erling Persson opened the first H&M shop in Västerås, Sweden, under the name Hennes. The Swedish word means “hers,” reflecting the store’s original focus on women’s clothing. The company expanded into Norway in 1964, then changed its name after Persson acquired the men’s and hunting-wear retailer Mauritz Widforss in 1968.
That acquisition added menswear and produced the name Hennes & Mauritz, later shortened in everyday use to H&M. The company eventually expanded into children’s clothing, accessories, homeware, and other fashion categories while building a large international retail network.
H&M is often confused with Zara, Uniqlo, or Primark because all compete in affordable, fast-moving fashion. The founding detail separates them: H&M began in Sweden in 1947, Zara began in Spain in 1975, and Uniqlo’s predecessor opened in Japan in 1984. H&M was listed on the Stockholm Stock Exchange in 1974.