Lots of exciting updates from H&M today: First, we have the Spring 2013 Lookbook images (you've already seen the video lookbook back in November). I like the pineapple tee. Designers like Balmain and Isabel Marant seem to be major sources of inspiration this season, from the color palette to the exaggerated jackets on shoulder, bohemian embellishments, use of prints and other cool-girl details.
Next, I got news back in December which I tweeted that H&M will be the first fashion company to launch a clothing collecting initiative worldwide. From February 2013, customers will be able to hand in used garments in H&M stores in all 48 markets. Sustainability is an important part of H&M's offering, says the company, and H&M strives to reduce the environmental impact of clothes throughout their lifecycle. How amazing is this?! Hopefully other stores like Forever 21 and Target will be next.
Meanwhile, the new fashion brand & Other Stories, H&M's new "luxury" brand, will launch its first collections during spring in seven cities and through an online store on stories.com in ten European countries. You can follow & Other Stories on Facebook and Twitter for the latest news, including (I hope) when they'll be opening in the United States.
http://about.hm.com/content/hm/AboutSection/en/About/Sustainability/Commitments/Communities/Community-Projects/All-for-Children.html
If that same producer is found to have a minor working for them, H&M stops working for them all together. On top of that H&M greatly values every part production line so they have started seamstress schools as too teach the craft. It's actually really fascinating that they can go to such great lengths to make sure they don't contribute to a huge problem like child labor. The only reason I know any of this, is because I work for this company, it was one of the top reasons I wanted to work for H&M from previously working for a non-profit who is concerned about the same issue.
Thanks