H&M

H&M Struggles With Mountain of Unsold Clothes

Profits are way down; unsold inventory is way up

(Newser) - H&M says it is struggling with shrinking profits and a massive, ever-growing pile of unsold clothes. The fashion retailer, full name Hennes and Mauritz AB, is sitting on a $4.3 billion mountain of unsold inventory that has grown by 7% over the last year as shopping habits change,... More »

'Security Reasons' Spur Family of Young H&M Model to Move

He Was in a Controversial H&M Ad. Now He's Had to Move

Family of 5-year-old Liam Mango says they had to vacate their home for 'security reasons'

(Newser) - Controversy keeps swirling around H&M and an online ad that showed a young black boy in a hoodie with the words "Coolest Monkey in the Jungle." The ad has since been removed, but the family of 5-year-old Liam Mango, the ad's model, now says they had... More »

South African Party Protests H&M 'Monkey' Sweatshirt

The sweatshirt has caused controversy around the world

(Newser) - Members of a South African opposition party have stormed into some H&M stores to protest a promotional image of a black child wearing a sweatshirt with the words "Coolest monkey in the jungle," the AP reports. Local media reports say the Economic Freedom Fighters members urged local... More »

H&M Apologizes for This Hoodie Ad

'Are you out of your damned minds?' one critic asks of 'monkey' phrase with black model

(Newser) - One of the first brand fails of the year is here: Fashion retailer H&M is apologizing for a catalog ad featuring a young black boy in a hoodie emblazoned with the phrase, "Coolest monkey in the jungle," reports the Daily Dot . The online reaction was swift and... More »

Discarded H&M Clothes Are Powering Homes in Sweden

A Swedish Power Plant Is Burning H&M Rejects

A rep for the company says the clothing may have mold or chemical issues

(Newser) - H&M's fashions are on fire—literally, that is, in Vasteras, Sweden. A heat and power station that powers 150,000 homes there has a mandate to stop burning fossil fuels like coal and oil by 2020. Its path to achieving that involves burning "only renewable and recycled... More »

Wes Anderson Makes Mini Holiday Movie for H&M

Featuring Adrien Brody

(Newser) - Wes Anderson is out with a new movie—sorta. The Los Angeles Times reports the filmmaker behind The Royal Tenenbaums, The Darjeeling Limited, and more has crafted a nearly 4-minute short ... for H&M. The mini-holiday movie features frequent Anderson collaborator Adrien Brody as a train conductor who has to... More »

Fashion Retailer Has $1M for Best Recycling Idea

H&M wants to reduce environmental strains of 'fast fashion'

(Newser) - H&M—the second most-profitable clothing store in the world—has drawn criticism for embodying the "fast-fashion" model of retail. Fast-fashion basically means overproducing cheap clothing, which can be good for consumers but not so good for workers and the environment. (Last Week Tonight with John Oliver explains the... More »

H&M: We'll Pay Living Wage to Bangladesh Workers

Clothing company announces new plan

(Newser) - H&M is doing something to combat the terrible conditions that so many garment workers in Bangladesh and Cambodia endure: The cheap clothing giant will make sure the workers making its products in those countries receive a living wage, the Wall Street Journal reports. The Swedish company (fun fact: Its... More »

Worker Walkout Closes Hundreds of Factories in Bangladesh

Meanwhile, clothing companies vow to improve safety in the country

(Newser) - Bangladesh's entire renowned garment manufacturing hub has been shut down indefinitely, after 80% of its workers walked off the job. The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association announced its decision to close the almost 500 factories in the Ashulia industrial zone "to ensure the security of our factories,... More »

Swimsuit Maker Apologizes for Tan Model

Sweden's H&M apologizes after taking flak

(Newser) - The tanning wars continue: Swedish retailer H&M has apologized for using a deeply bronzed model to show off a swimsuit, reports AFP . "We are sorry," said the company. "It was not our intention to show off a specific ideal or to encourage dangerous behavior, but was... More »

And This Year's Top Super Bowl Ads Were...

Doritos' bungee baby, Clint Eastwood for Chrysler lead the way

(Newser) - Sure, the New York Giants won the game itself, but Doritos was the big winner of the Super Bowl contest that really mattered—the ad race. Doritos' baby bungee scored the most Twitter mentions, a big 48,498 tweets, reports the Wall Street Journal; it also took the top spot... More »

Jimmy Choo Steps Into H&M

Fashion collection will include designs for men and women

(Newser) - Christmas has come early for recessionistas: Jimmy Choo is teaming up with the budget-conscious retail chain H&M, the AP reports. The shoemaker, adored by Sex and the City’s Carrie, will also include bags, accessories, and clothing in its collection, to launch Nov. 14. “We adore Jimmy Choo’... More »

Cheaper 'Fast Fashion' Booms in Japan

Recessionistas head to cheaper chain stores in once-superstylish district

(Newser) - In Tokyo’s Harajuku district, designer brands are making way for cheaper “fast fashion” stores, where $100 buys an outfit, bag, shoes, and accessories. The most recent chain to debut, Forever 21, drew massive crowds—in a scene reminiscent of November, when 2,500 did the same thing next... More »

H&M Named Europe's Most Valuable Brand

Interbrand says strong 'own-label' is key to international success

(Newser) - Swedish clothing chain H&M was named Europe’s most valuable brand in the inaugural ranking of retailers on the continent by Interbrand, the brand consulting firm, reports the Financial Times. H&M’s brand value was placed at $20.7 billion. French retailer Carrefour ($13.2 billion) and Sweden’... More »