**Brief History of H&M

H&M (Hennes & Mauritz) is a Swedish multinational fashion retailer recognized for its affordable and trendy clothing.

• 1947**: Founded by Erling Persson in Västerås, Sweden, as Hennes, meaning "hers" in Swedish, selling women's clothing.
• 1968**: Acquired Mauritz Widforss, a hunting apparel store, which enabled the company to expand into men’s clothing, leading to the renaming of the company to Hennes & Mauritz (H&M).
• 1970s-1980s**: Expanded across Europe, introducing clothing lines for children and young adult
• 2000**: Entered the U.S. market, enhancing its global pre
• 2004**: Launched its first designer collaboration with Karl Lagerfeld, followed by partnerships with brands such as Versace, Balmain, and Moschino.
• 2010s**: Focused on sustainability by launching the H&M Conscious Collection and initiatives for clothing recycling
• 2020s**: Emphasized digital transformation, online shopping, and eco-friendly fashion.

Today, H&M operates in over 75 countries and has thousands of stores, making it one of the world’s largest fashion retailers.

H&M and Bangladesh’s Factories

H&M is one of the largest purchasers of garments from Bangladesh, sourcing a significant portion of its clothing from factories in the country. Bangladesh serves as a key manufacturing hub for H&M due to its low production costs, skilled workforce, and strong textile industry.

Key Points About H&M's Presence in Bangladesh

**  - **Major Supplier**: H&M sources products from over 200 factories in Bangladesh, positioning itself as one of the biggest retailers in the country’s Readymade Garments (RMG) sector.

- **Rana Plaza Tragedy (2013)**: Following the collapse of the Rana Plaza garment factory, which supplied various brands (including H&M, but not directly), the company faced pressure to ensure better working conditions in its supplier factories.

- **Commitment to Sustainability**: H&M collaborates with the Bangladesh Accord on Fire and Building Safety to enhance factory conditions, improve worker safety, and ensure fair wages. The brand promotes eco-friendly production and aims for climate-neutral supply chains by 2030.

   - **Fair Living Wage Initiative**: H&M partners with organizations to ensure fair wages for workers in Bangladesh’s garment sector.

- **Growth and Impact**: H&M’s engagement with Bangladeshi factories has created millions of jobs, empowering particularly women workers in the textile industry.

H&M continues to source from Bangladesh while maintaining a focus on ethical production and sustainability.