H&M Hennes & Mauritz AB
Company History
H&M Hennes & Mauritz AB History: Founding, Growth & Key Milestones
Founded 1947 in Västerås, Sweden
When was H&M Hennes & Mauritz AB founded?
H&M Hennes & Mauritz AB was founded in 1947 in Västerås, Sweden by Erling Persson, making it 79 years old.
- Founded
- 1947
- Founding place
- Västerås, Sweden
- Founders
- Erling Persson
- Headquarters today
- Stockholm, Sweden
- Milestones documented
- 11 (1947–2025)
- Current CEO
- Daniel Ervér
- Acquisitions
- 3
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1947 | Hennes Founded |
| 1964 | First Store Outside Sweden |
| 1968 | Mauritz Widforss Acquisition |
| 1974 | Stockholm Listing |
| 2000 | First US Store |
| 2004 | Karl Lagerfeld Collaboration |
| 2007 | COS Launches |
| 2019 | Sellpy Investment |
| 2020 | Helena Helmersson Becomes CEO |
| 2024 | Daniel Ervér Becomes CEO |
| 2025 | FY2025 Net Sales of ~$22.8B (SEK 228.3B) |
- Where was H&M Hennes & Mauritz AB founded?
- H&M Hennes & Mauritz AB was founded in Västerås, Sweden in 1947. wikidata.org
- Who founded H&M Hennes & Mauritz AB?
- H&M Hennes & Mauritz AB was founded by Erling Persson.
- When did H&M Hennes & Mauritz AB start?
- H&M Hennes & Mauritz AB was founded in 1947.
- How old is H&M Hennes & Mauritz AB?
- H&M Hennes & Mauritz AB is 79 years old as of 2026.
Founding Story
After a postwar trip to the United States, where he saw high-volume, low-price clothing stores, Erling Persson opened Hennes ('hers' in Swedish), a women's clothing store in Västerås, in 1947. In 1968 he bought Stockholm hunting and outdoor retailer Mauritz Widforss, which brought menswear into the business and gave it the name Hennes & Mauritz.
Founders
Erling Persson
Erling Persson founded Hennes (Swedish for 'Hers') in 1947 after a road trip across the United States. He was deeply inspired by the high-volume, low-margin retail model of American department stores like Macy's. He brought this aggressive, volume-driven strategy back to Sweden, completely democratizing fashion in post-war Europe before acquiring hunting apparel retailer Mauritz Widforss to add menswear to the brand. Erling Persson was born in 1917 in Borlänge. Persson was born on January 21, 1917 and died on October 28, 2002. The idea came from a trip to the United States after the Second World War, where the efficient, high-volume stores impressed him. He opened the first shop in Vasteras in 1947, selling women's clothing under the name Hennes, Swedish for "hers".
Key Milestones
Hennes Founded
Erling Persson opens Hennes in Vasteras, Sweden, as a women's fashion store, inspired by high-volume US retail he saw on a postwar trip.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgFirst Store Outside Sweden
Hennes opened its first store outside Sweden, in Norway, in 1964.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgMauritz Widforss Acquisition
The company acquires Mauritz Widforss, adds menswear, and becomes Hennes & Mauritz.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgStockholm Listing
H&M lists publicly in Stockholm, giving it capital and visibility for international expansion.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgFirst US Store
H&M opened its first US store on Fifth Avenue in New York in 2000.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgKarl Lagerfeld Collaboration
H&M launched its first designer collaboration, with Karl Lagerfeld, in November 2004.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgCOS Launches
H&M launches COS, signaling a larger portfolio strategy beyond the core value-fashion banner.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgSellpy Investment
H&M invests in resale platform Sellpy, building early exposure to circular-fashion demand.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgHelena Helmersson Becomes CEO
Helena Helmersson became chief executive of H&M in January 2020.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgDaniel Ervér Becomes CEO
Daniel Ervér becomes CEO in a surprise change announced alongside weak quarterly results, as the group focuses on sharper assortments, digital retail, and profitability.
Source: hmgroup.comFY2025 Net Sales of ~$22.8B (SEK 228.3B)
H&M reports ~$22.8 billion (SEK 228.285 billion) in FY2025 net sales and ~$1.21 billion (SEK 12.085 billion) profit for the year.
Source: hmgroup.comMajor Acquisitions
Mauritz Widforss
1968Erling Persson acquired Stockholm hunting-equipment retailer Mauritz Widforss in 1968 to expand Hennes beyond its original womenswear assortment into menswear.
Sellpy (majority stake)
2019H&M Group, which had invested in Swedish secondhand-resale platform Sellpy since 2015 through its CO:LAB investment arm, increased its stake to roughly 70% in 2019, becoming Sellpy's majority owner.
Fabric Scandinavien (Weekday, Monki, Cheap Monday)
2008H&M bought 60 percent of Fabric Scandinavien, owner of Weekday, Monki and Cheap Monday, in 2008.
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H&M Hennes & Mauritz AB Company History FAQ
When was H&M founded and what was its original retail concept?
H&M was founded in 1947 when Erling Persson opened the first 'Hennes' store in Västerås, Sweden. The store offered stylish, affordable women's fashion, utilizing American discount retail principles to make fashion accessible to everyday postwar Swedish consumers.
When did H&M begin its international expansion outside Sweden?
H&M began international expansion in 1964 by opening its first store in neighboring Norway, followed by Denmark in 1967. The company entered the United Kingdom in 1976 and Switzerland in 1978, establishing a strong presence across Western Europe throughout the 1980s and 1990s.
When did H&M list its shares on the stock exchange?
H&M completed its initial public offering (IPO) on the Stockholm Stock Exchange (now Nasdaq Stockholm) in 1974. The IPO provided growth capital for pan-European store openings while establishing the dual-class share structure that preserved founding family ownership control.
When did H&M enter the United States retail market?
H&M made its landmark entry into the United States in March 2000 with the grand opening of its flagship store on Fifth Avenue in New York City. The opening was met with large public fanfare, kicking off an aggressive multi-state retail expansion across North America.
How did the 2004 Karl Lagerfeld collaboration change fashion retail history?
In November 2004, H&M partnered with Chanel creative director Karl Lagerfeld to launch a limited-edition capsule collection. The collection sold out globally within hours, establishing the 'high-low' designer collaboration phenomenon that fundamentally bridged haute couture and high-street fast fashion.
When did H&M launch its premium brand COS (Collection of Style)?
H&M launched COS (Collection of Style) in March 2007, opening its first store on Regent Street in London. COS introduced architectural, minimalist design and premium fabrics at an accessible contemporary price point, establishing a successful blueprint for H&M's brand diversification strategy.
How did H&M handle the global COVID-19 pandemic disruptions?
During the 2020 to 2021 pandemic, H&M temporarily closed over 80% of its global retail stores. The company responded by accelerating digital e-commerce investments, renegotiating store lease terms, optimizing supply chain agility, and introducing comprehensive automated fulfillment solutions.
What major milestones marked H&M's 75th anniversary in 2022?
In 2022, H&M celebrated its 75th anniversary by expanding circular business models, rolling out modernized experiential store formats in major global capitals, investing heavily in AI-driven inventory management, and strengthening its commitment to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions across its supply chain by 2040.
How did H&M start?
H&M was founded in 1947 by Erling Persson in Västerås, Sweden. Originally, the store was simply called "Hennes" (Swedish for "Hers") and only sold women's clothing. Persson had visited the United States and was massively inspired by huge department stores like Macy's. He realized that selling a high volume of clothes at very low margins was the future of retail.
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