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☆ H&M has pulled a school uniform ad over criticism that it sexualized young girls
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-23 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

H&M has scrapped a school uniform advert in Australia after complaints that it sexualized children. The advert of two young girls was accompanied by text saying they could "make those heads turn." NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. AdvertisementSwedish fast-fashion retailer H&M has pulled a school uniform advert in Australia after being widely accused of sexualizing children. People criticized the way H&M portrayed young girls in school uniform, calling the ad "creepy" and "disturbing."

Persons: —, Melinda Tankard Reist Organizations: Service Locations: Australia, Swedish

☆ H&M pulls school uniform ad in Australia after complaints it sexualized children
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-22 | by ( Issy Ronald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —H&M has apologized for and removed a school uniform advertisement in Australia after users on social media complained that it sexualized children. “We have removed this ad,” the Swedish fashion giant told CNN. Australian writer Melinda Tankard Reist, who says her work addresses sexualization and the harms of pornography, was among the first on social media to oppose the ad. “What is your intention with this sponsored Facebook ad?” she posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. “Little schoolgirls generally don’t want to ‘turn heads.’ The large numbers I engage with in schools want to be left alone to learn and have fun and not draw unwanted attention to their appearance.”

Persons: “, ”, Melinda Tankard Reist Organizations: CNN Locations: Australia, Swedish

☆ Middle East War Becomes a European Crisis
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( Dominic Green | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Images: AFP/Getty Images/Zuma Press Composite: Mark KellyLondonA war in the Middle East is a foreign-policy crisis for the U.S., but it is a domestic crisis for Europe. The streets of London, Paris and Berlin are blocked by marchers calling for jihad. In Brussels, the European Union’s capital, an international soccer match was halted after a Tunisian asylum seeker shot two Swedish fans on their way to the game. Synagogues and Jewish schools are vandalized, and Jews physically assaulted. Police are outnumbered in the streets, undermined by legal activists, and supported only equivocally by politicians.

Persons: Mark Kelly London Organizations: Getty, Police Locations: Europe, London, Paris, Berlin, Brussels

BRUSSELS (AP) — Sweden players were returning to their clubs Tuesday after taking an overnight flight home from Brussels following the suspension of their European Championship qualifier against Belgium at halftime because a gunman killed two Swedish nationals before kickoff. It was around 4 a.m. local time when the last of the Swedish supporters — totaling about 650, according to the Swedish Football Association — left the stadium under police surveillance, along with some staff from the federation. All hotels where Swedish supporters were staying were also guarded by police, the federation said. Political Cartoons View All 1211 ImagesThe Swedish FA confirmed to The Associated Press that the national-team players were now making their way back to their clubs. Brussels mayor Philippe Close told La Premiere radio that the game had not been regarded as a high-risk match.

Persons: Swedish Football Association —, “, Annelies Verlinden, Martin Fredman, ”, ” Fredman, Caroline, Philippe Close, Thomas Meunier, Meunier, ___ ___ Douglas, Sylvain Plazy, Raf Casert, Lorne Cook Organizations: —, European Championship, Belgium, UEFA, King Baudouin, Swedish Football Association, Swedish FA, Associated Press, Belgian, Belgian Red Devils, Swedish, Brussels, Premiere Locations: BRUSSELS, — Sweden, Brussels, Belgium, Austria, Germany, Sweden, Swedish, Antwerp, Sundsvall

☆ Swedes find solace in solidarity despite loss to Spain
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( Philip O'Connor | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

"It's not just their fight, it's the whole world's fight, so we wanted to show that we stand behind them," Sweden captain Kosovare Asllani told Reuters. Now at Italian side AC Milan, Asllani spent three years at Real Madrid and she embraced former team mate Teresa Abelleira after the final whistle. "I have a lot of good friends in the team and we discussed what they're going through. What we said will stay between us, but they were grateful for our support and that we stand behind them. The Spanish team's long-simmering row with the country's association reached boiling point when former Spanish FA president Luis Rubiales planted a kiss on the lips of player Jennie Hermoso after they won the World Cup final in August.

Persons: It's, Kosovare Asllani, Asllani, Teresa Abelleira, Luis Rubiales, Jennie Hermoso, Rubiales, Jorge Vilda, Magda Eriksson, Eriksson, Magda, Philip O'Connor Organizations: night's Nations League, Nations League, Olympic, Reuters, AC Milan, Real Madrid, Spanish, Thomson Locations: GOTHENBURG, Sweden, Swedish, Spain, Gothenburg

☆ The billionaire son of H&M's founder owns a sprawling English country estate with over 100 cottages, a distillery, and a pub that sells his own beer
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-17 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Stefan Persson, the son of H&M's founder, owns a 19,000-acre country estate in southern England. In 1997, Persson splurged some of his fortunes on a 3,000-acre country estate in Wiltshire, southern England, which went on to become Ramsbury Estates. Ramsbury Estates has about 7,000 acres of farmland, with a focus on wheat and barley alongside a small herd of cattle. Geography Photos/Universal Images Group via Getty ImagesLike many modern farms, Ramsbury Estates has diversified. Ramsbury Estates declined to comment on exactly what the "agency" portion of its business is comprised of.

Persons: Stefan Persson, H, Persson, Erling Persson, Stefan, Persson splurged Organizations: M's, Service, 101st, Bloomberg, Invest, –, Ramsbury Estates, Getty, Ramsbury, M Locations: England, Wall, Silicon, Sweden, Wiltshire, Ramsbury, Monki

☆ H&M looks out of sync with shoppers’ reality
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The H&M clothing store is seen in Times Square in Manhattan, New York, U.S., November 15, 2019. REUTERS/Mike Segar Acquire Licensing RightsMILAN, Sept 15 (Reuters Breakingviews) - H&M (HMb.ST) CEO Helena Helmersson is feeling the heat. H&M has probably been operating under the illusion that it could maintain pricing power while consumers are being hit by inflation. Its $120 billion rival Inditex (ITX.MC), whose Zara brand is considered more upmarket than H&M, has started to pause price increases. Right now, H&M trades on the same 20 times forward earnings multiple than Inditex.

Persons: Mike Segar, Helena Helmersson, “, That’s, Shein, Inditex's, Lisa Jucca, George Hay, Streisand Neto Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters, RBC, X, Thomson Locations: Manhattan , New York, U.S, Swedish

☆ Arnautovic double helps Austria to 3-1 win away to sorry Sweden
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( Philip O'Connor | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

STOCKHOLM, Sept 12 (Reuters) - Austria striker Marko Arnautovic notched two second-half goals as his side comfortably beat Sweden 3-1 in their Group F qualifier at the Friends Arena on Tuesday, dealing a serious blow to the hosts' hopes of qualifying for Euro 2024. Belgium, who thrashed Estonia 5-0 in Brussels, top the group on 13 points after five games, ahead of Austria on goal difference. The Swedes are third on six points with Azerbaijan fourth on one point along with bottom side Estonia. Austria made it two three minutes later when a clearance by Sweden defender Isak Hien only went as far as Marcel Sabitzer and he played a first-time ball to Arnautovic, who swivelled and calmly fired home. Sweden coach Janne Andersson made a flurry of late changes and substitute Emil Holm pulled a late goal back but Austria easily held on and moved a step closer to qualification.

Persons: Marko Arnautovic, Michael Gregoritsch, Stefan Posch's, Isak Hien, Marcel Sabitzer, swivelled, Philipp Mwene, Arnautovic, Janne Andersson, Emil Holm, Philip O'Connor, Ken Ferris Organizations: Sweden, Friends, Estonia, Azerbaijan, Thomson Locations: STOCKHOLM, Austria, Belgium, Brussels, Estonia, Sweden

☆ Finland's government agrees anti-racism policy to save coalition
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Finland's Prime Minister Petteri Orpo attends a summit between European Union leaders and leaders of the CELAC group of Latin American and Caribbean states, in Brussels, Belgium July 18, 2023. REUTERS/Johanna Geron/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsHELSINKI, Aug 31 (Reuters) - Finland's government, beset by racism controversies since taking office in June, has agreed on a common policy to combat intolerance, party leaders said late on Wednesday, preventing a collapse of the four-party, right-wing coalition. Prime Minister Petteri Orpo, whose conservative National Coalition Party (NCP) narrowly won Finland's April election, said the government on Thursday will present its unified policy on how to tackle racism, following a cabinet meeting. SPP leader Anna-Maja Henriksson said she and her party had endorsed the new policy. Reporting by Anne Kauranen, editing by Terje Solsvik, Robert BirselOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Petteri Orpo, Johanna Geron, Vilhelm Junnila, Riikka Purra, Anna, Maja Henriksson, Henriksson, Anne Kauranen, Terje Solsvik, Robert Birsel Organizations: Finland's, Union, REUTERS, Rights, Finns Party, Finns, National Coalition Party, NCP, Swedish People's Party, Swedish, Twitter, Thomson Locations: Caribbean, Brussels, Belgium

☆ Victoria’s Secret recruits Naomi Campbell, Adriana Lima and Gisele Bündchen for a new campaign
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( Jacqui Palumbo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Victoria’s Secret is reuniting some of the most classic supermodels from its heyday, bringing Gisele Bündchen, Naomi Campbell, Adriana Lima and Candice Swanepoel together in a new campaign. Bündchen, Lima and Swanepoel were part of the long-running “Angels” brand, which the company retired in 2021 as part of its rebrand. (All three worked as “Angels” for years in campaigns and in the brand’s famed Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show — and all wore the show’s signature “Fantasy Bra” on occasions.) It later launched campaigns featuring ambassadors called the VS Collective, including celebrity reps including soccer star Megan Rapinoe and actor Priyanka Chopra Jonas. The campaign images, a mix of classic black-and-white and color portraits, were taken by Swedish fashion photographer Mikael Jansson.

Persons: Gisele Bündchen, Naomi Campbell, Adriana Lima, Candice Swanepoel, Megan Rapinoe, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Hailey Bieber, Paloma Elsesser, Sui, Emily Ratajkowski, Mikael Jansson, Adut Akech, “, Ed Razek, ”, Stuart Burgdoerfer, We’re, Amy Hauk, Jeffrey Epstein Organizations: CNN, Brands Locations: Lima, Swanepoel

At least ten copies of the Koran have been burned in Denmark over the past week. WHAT IS AT THE HEART OF THE ISSUE IN SWEDEN AND DENMARK? WHAT ARE SWEDEN AND DENMARK DOING NOW? Nevertheless, both Sweden and Denmark say they are examining ways to legally limit burnings to de-escalate tensions with Muslim nations. WHAT NEXT FOR THE LAW IN DENMARK AND SWEDEN?

Persons: Salwan Momika, Rasmus Paludan, Desecrating, Prophet Mohammad, Angel Gabriel, Tom Little, Susie Jessen, Tayyip Erdogan, Johan Ahlander, Johannes Birkebaek, Ahmed Rasheed, Gwladys Fouche, Andrew Heavens Organizations: WHO, Danish Patriots, NATO, REUTERS, Denmark Democrats, Reuters, Sweden's, Thomson Locations: COPENHAGEN, Denmark, Sweden, Iraq, Swedish, SWEDEN, DENMARK, Christiansborg Palace, Copenhagen, Tom Little Denmark, Baghdad, East, Stockholm

☆ Fashion retailer H&M to launch in Brazil
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

COPENHAGEN, July 17 (Reuters) - Fashion retailer H&M (HMb.ST) will launch stores and online trade in Brazil in 2025, the company said on Monday. H&M opened its first store in Latin America in Mexico in 2012, and is currently present in Peru, Uruguay, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Panama, and Costa Rica. "With a population of over 210 million in Brazil and a strong appreciation for fashion, there is considerable potential for expansion in the market," H&M said in a statement. To support its expansion in Brazil, H&M is partnering with Dorben Group, which runs retail operations across 10 countries across Central and South America, the Swedish fashion giant said. The launch in Brazil comes as the company is pushing to accelerate its expansion in the North and South America region, focusing in particular on Latin America, it said.

Persons: Louise Breusch Rasmussen, Anna Ringstrom, Jason Neely Organizations: Dorben Group, Thomson Locations: COPENHAGEN, Brazil, America, Mexico, Peru, Uruguay, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Panama, Costa Rica, Central, South America, Swedish, North

☆ H&M to grow third-party brand strategy as online rivalry intensifies
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

STOCKHOLM, June 29 (Reuters) - H&M (HMb.ST) plans to sell more third-party brands online and in stores, CEO Helena Helmersson said on Thursday, as one of the world's top fashion retailers ramps up its effort to take on e-commerce rivals. Its marketplace strategy, launched last year, is aimed at challenging online rivals like Zalando, ASOS, and fast-fashion giant Shein as competition intensifies. Inditex-owned (ITX.MC) Zara features other brands only for exclusive collaborations, such as with South Korean label Ader Error and British shoemaker Clarks. "This has been really well received by customers who also complement the H&M assortment with other brands," Helmersson said. "Inditex's thinking is focused on its own brands, own stores and own online," said Lowery.

Persons: Helena Helmersson, M's, Zara, Clarks, Helmersson, Geoff Lowery, Inditex's Zara, Lowery, Marie, Helen Reid, Josephine Mason, Emma Rumney Organizations: Adidas, South, Marie Mannes, Thomson Locations: STOCKHOLM, Cos, Swedish, Monki, Hong Kong, Stockholm, London

☆ Beyoncé Returns to the Stage With a ‘Renaissance’ Spectacle
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( Alex Marshall | Ben Sisario | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The star’s eagle-eyed fan community speculated online that the singer was injured. A spokeswoman for Beyoncé did not respond to questions about her performance. Kristin Hulden, a Swedish fashion student who was wearing an embroidered jacket she had made that depicted Beyoncé riding a horse (the image on the cover of her latest album, “Renaissance”), said she had noticed the star’s more limited movement, but it hadn’t bothered her. Competition for tickets to pop’s biggest, priciest concerts has been stiff, and many in the crowd had traveled far — even thousands of miles — to guarantee that they would see Beyoncé this time. Rhoyle Ivy King, 26, an actor wearing a fluorescent turquoise jumpsuit and shades, said before the show that he had come from Los Angeles for the concert, spending about $2,500.

☆ Ending the retailers’ crisis has a high price tag
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-02 | by ( Aimee Donnellan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

BARCELONA, May 2 (Reuters Breakingviews) - High-street retailers are facing a heavy bill to weather the cost-of-living crisis. The cost of heating stores and staff requests for pay rises are squeezing operating margins at top players like H&M (HMb.ST) and Next (NXT.L). Shrinking disposable income is making it hard for these retailers to boost sales to protect margins. Most bricks-and-mortar retailers trade on higher multiples than they did before the war in Ukraine sparked soaring inflation. But that leaves a squeezed middle of retailers like H&M exposed to the brunt of the retail crisis.

☆ Factbox: European companies cut jobs as economy sputters
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

REUTERS/Stephane MaheJan 17 (Reuters) - Decades-high inflation and the impact of war in Ukraine have forced companies across Europe into lay-offs or hiring freezes. * HUSQVARNA (HUSQb.ST): the garden equipment and tools maker announced in late October it will cut 1,000 jobs, the vast majority of them related to the shift from petrol to battery-powered tools. * SIEMENS GAMESA (SGREN.MC): the Spanish wind turbine maker in late September said it plans to cut 2,900 jobs, mostly in Europe, as part of a plan to return to profitability. * CLAS OHLSON (CLASb.ST): the Swedish hardware store chain said in December it would cut about 85 full-time jobs amongst other measures to deliver cost savings and reduced depreciation. BANKS AND FINANCIALS* KLARNA: Dagens Industri reported in May the Swedish payments company would lay off about 10% of its 7,000 employees.

☆ Justin Bieber vs H&M: The Swedish fast-fashion giant says it has the rights to sell merch with Bieber's imagery, such as hoodies and t-shirts featuring the lyrics of the song 'Ghost'
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-23 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Justin Bieber had lashed out at H&M on Instagram for selling "trash" merch featuring his image. The Swedish fast-fashion giant clarified Thursday it has the rights to sell merch featuring the singer's imagery. H&M said on Thursday it had obtained the rights to sell merchandise featuring Bieber's imagery, following the artist's harsh criticism that he "didn't approve" them. The clarification came after Bieber slammed the items on his Instagram stories on Monday, where he called the merch "trash" and urged his 270 million followers not to buy them. H&M has now said it removed the merch from its stores and website "out of respect" for Bieber.

☆ H&M agrees to pay a 500 euro bonus to 4,000 workers in January
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MADRID, Dec 21 (Reuters) - Swedish fashion retailer H&M (HMb.ST) agreed to pay a 500 euro ($530) bonus to some 4,000 shop workers in Spain in January, two unions said on Wednesday, after its arch-rival Inditex (ITX.MC) offered 1,000 euros to its home country shop assistants. The world's biggest fashion retailers are responding to demands from their workers for higher pay to offset soaring consumer prices. The Sweden-based fashion retailer will pay 500 euros to all its shop workers who have been employed in Spain at least since January 2022. The company will pay 250 euros to those who have worked at least six months. Soaring consumer prices have pushed unions in Spain to press sometimes reluctant employers for pay raises.

☆ Justin Bieber slams H&M "trash" merchandise featuring his image
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] Justin Bieber performs a medley of songs at the 2016 Billboard Awards in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S., May 22, 2016. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni/File PhotoCOPENHAGEN, Dec 20 (Reuters) - Pop singer Justin Bieber lashed out at H&M (HMb.ST) over clothes featuring the Canadian artist's image and lyrics, saying the Swedish fashion giant had not obtained his approval. "The H&M merch they made of me is trash and I didn't approve it," Bieber wrote in an Instagram story on Monday, encouraging his 270 million followers not to buy it. "As with all other licensed products and partnerships, H&M followed proper approval procedures," an H&M spokesperson said in a written comment to Reuters. ($1 = 7.0100 Danish crowns)Reporting by Stine Jacobsen, editing by Terje Solsvik and Kirsten DonovanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Factbox: FACTBOX European companies cut jobs as economy sputters
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

REUTERS/Evgenia NovozheninaDec 7 (Reuters) - Decades-high inflation and the impact of war in Ukraine have forced companies across Europe into lay-offs or hiring freezes. * FINNAIR (FIA1S.HE): the Finnish airline will cut about 150 jobs, of which 90 are in its home country, as part of a plan to return to profitability. * MICHELIN (MICP.PA): the tyre maker plans to cut up to 1,600 jobs in France, fewer than the 2,300 estimated in its initial voluntary redundancy plan as it seeks to safeguard production. * HUSQVARNA (HUSQb.ST): the garden equipment and tools maker will cut 1,000 jobs, the vast majority of them related to the shift from petrol to battery-powered tools. * H&M (HMb.ST): the Swedish fashion giant, which employs roughly 155,000 people, will cut some 1,500 jobs as part of a 2 billion crown ($189.5 million) savings drive.

☆ Factbox: European companies cuts jobs as economy sputters
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

☆ H&M to Lay Off 1,500 Staff to Stem Rising Costs
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( Trefor Moss | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

H&M was slower to bounce back after the pandemic compared with some of its competitors. H&M Hennes & Mauritz AB said it would cut around 1,500 jobs from its global workforce as retailers around the world face pressure from high inflation and weakening consumer demand. The Swedish fast-fashion company disclosed the layoffs Wednesday as part of a broader efficiency program aimed at reducing administrative and overhead costs. As part of that effort, H&M had been reviewing its organization, Chief Executive Helena Helmersson said.

☆ Sweden's H&M to lay off 1,500 staff in drive to cut soaring costs and rescue profits
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( Stine Jacobsen | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The cuts by H&M, which employs roughly 155,000 people, are part of a plan laid out in September to save 2 billion Swedish crowns per year. "Keeping the lights and heating on in vast stores is becoming increasingly unaffordable with energy prices so volatile," she added. In contrast to H&M, Inditex reported in September quarterly sales growth and said it planned to hike prices to offset soaring costs. British fashion retailer Primark has announced plans to add 1,800 jobs in Spain and Britain as it expands. H&M said its savings would start to kick in from the second half of next year, while it will take a restructuring charge of 800 million Swedish crowns in the fourth quarter.

☆ Sweden's H&M first big European retailer to cut jobs as inflation hits demand
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( Stine Jacobsen | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

COPENHAGEN, Nov 30 (Reuters) - Swedish fashion giant H&M (HMb.ST) on Wednesday became the first big European retailer to start layoffs by announcing 1,500 job cuts owing to softening demand as consumers cope with soaring inflation. The move by the world's No.2 fashion retailer comes as surging cost of living and the blow from the Ukraine war hurt consumer spending and pressured companies across Europe and the United States to save cash. The company said the savings would start to kick in from the second half of next year, while it will take a restructuring charge of 800 million Swedish crowns ($75.80 million) in the fourth quarter. The H&M clothing store is seen in Times Square in Manhattan, New York, U.S., November 15, 2019. While high-street retailers are struggling due to stiff competition from online-only brands, British fashion retailer Primark has recently announced plans to add 1,800 jobs in Spain and Britain as it benefits from shoppers trading down in price.

☆ Fashion retailer H&M to cut 1,500 jobs in cost saving drive
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

OSLO, Nov 30 (Reuters) - Swedish fashion retailer H&M (HMb.ST) will cut some 1,500 jobs as part of its cost cutting drive and book a restructuring charge of 800 million Swedish crowns ($75.80 million) in the fourth quarter, it said on Wednesday. In September, H&M, the world's No. 2 fashion retailer, launched a plan to save 2 billion Swedish crowns per year. "We will support our colleagues in finding the best possible solution for their next step," she added. ($1 = 10.5546 Swedish crowns)Reporting by Terje Solsvik, editing by Stine Jacobsen and Louise HeavensOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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