Case Study
Company Profile
H&M has been at the forefront of affordable chic for some time now. From its Swedish base, Hennes and Mauritz has grown into a major multinational clothes and cosmetics retailer. Just the place for fashionistas, it now has over 1500 outlets in 28 countries and a turnover in 2007 of over SEK92bn. H&M was one of the first to challenge the retail clothing sector by delivering fast fashion at low prices. The company offers different concepts for women, men, teenagers and children and includes everything from modern basics to high fashion. The collections are supplemented by matching accessories, nightwear, underwear and cosmetics. However H&M does not have factories of its own but has a multitude of designers and buyers and works with around 700 independent suppliers to produce clothing collections for almost everyone, all at affordable prices. H&M lives by its business concept, ‘fashion and quality at the best price.
General description of its Supply Chain
Its approach is to use the influence wherever possible to promote good practice and raise awareness, not only among its suppliers and their employees as well as others along the value chain. It is believed that working together in partnership is the best way they can make a positive difference.
There are numbers of process and people involved in their Supply Chain:
Buyers The buying office is based in Stockholm, Sweden. Here, designers, pattern makers and buyers, together with merchandisers in their production offices, create, plan and purchase their collections.
Merchandisers Based in one of their 15 production offices in Asia and Europe, merchandisers are the link between H&M’s buying office and our suppliers. They identify which suppliers to place orders with.
Auditors Also based in their production offices, their sustainability team – consisting of more than 80 people – monitors suppliers’ compliance with their Code of Conduct through our Full Audit Program (FAP) and support progress with
H&M has been at the forefront of affordable chic for some time now. From its Swedish base, Hennes and Mauritz has grown into a major multinational clothes and cosmetics retailer. Just the place for fashionistas, it now has over 1500 outlets in 28 countries and a turnover in 2007 of over SEK92bn. H&M was one of the first to challenge the retail clothing sector by delivering fast fashion at low prices. The company offers different concepts for women, men, teenagers and children and includes everything from modern basics to high fashion. The collections are supplemented by matching accessories, nightwear, underwear and cosmetics. However H&M does not have factories of its own but has a multitude of designers and buyers and works with around 700 independent suppliers to produce clothing collections for almost everyone, all at affordable prices. H&M lives by its business concept, ‘fashion and quality at the best price.
General description of its Supply Chain
Its approach is to use the influence wherever possible to promote good practice and raise awareness, not only among its suppliers and their employees as well as others along the value chain. It is believed that working together in partnership is the best way they can make a positive difference.
There are numbers of process and people involved in their Supply Chain:
Buyers The buying office is based in Stockholm, Sweden. Here, designers, pattern makers and buyers, together with merchandisers in their production offices, create, plan and purchase their collections.
Merchandisers Based in one of their 15 production offices in Asia and Europe, merchandisers are the link between H&M’s buying office and our suppliers. They identify which suppliers to place orders with.
Auditors Also based in their production offices, their sustainability team – consisting of more than 80 people – monitors suppliers’ compliance with their Code of Conduct through our Full Audit Program (FAP) and support progress with