Retail scale built without owned factories.
Erling Persson opened the women’s shop Hennes in Västerås after observing American clothing retail. The purchase of Mauritz Widforss added menswear and produced the H&M name; design remains Swedish-led while suppliers make the clothes globally.
- 1947
Hennes opens in Västerås.
- 1968
The Mauritz Widforss acquisition creates Hennes & Mauritz.
- 2004
Karl Lagerfeld begins H&M’s designer-collaboration era.



