H&M Logo PNG
The trendy Swedish brand aims to be accessible to most consumers, so H&M chose a simple logo. It consists of only two letters from the company’s abbreviated name and a connecting ampersand between them. The focus on the consumer and the simplicity of the H&M logo has borne fruit: the clothing manufacturer has gained widespread popularity. Of course, the quality of the products is not the least consideration.
H&M: Brand overview
| Founded: | 1947 |
| Founder: | Erling Persson |
| Headquarters: | Stockholm, Sweden |
| Website: | hm.com |
H&M is a successful brand representing a network of fashionable clothing stores in Europe. It deals in retail sales of clothing and is owned by Ramsbury Invest. The brand was founded by Erling Persson and appeared in October 1947 in the city of Västerås, Sweden.
Meaning and History
The evolution of this brand’s logo began with the word “Hennes.” This word was on the company’s first version of the logo. Translated from Swedish, it meant “She,” which declared itself on the original emblem. This continued until the brand’s founder bought another retailer – a competing trade network.
It was then that the company’s name changed to Hennes & Mauritz, and with it, the logo. At the same time, designers added a graphical element to the verbal designation. But gradually, the phrase “narrowed” down to two letters, which laid the foundation for a recognizable image. The retail chain has three main logo variants and one variation.
What is H&M?
See AlsoLetter H Branding Ideas - 25+ Best H Brand Identity Designs 2024 | 99designsThe Hermès Logo And Brand: Traditional Branding At Its FinestLetter H Logos | The Best H Logos | BrandCrowdDecoding H&M Logo History, Symbol, and Meaning of the Popular Clothing Brand - DesignhillH&M is a popular Swedish company that manufactures and sells a wide range of clothing lines. Its products are presented in branded stores worldwide. In 2008, the range expanded to include home goods.
1947 – 1968
In the year of foundation, the company received a simple logo: a light name on a dark background. The word “Hennes” is written in italics and positioned at an angle, stretched upwards. This is an interesting psychological technique, as optimists write just like this, directing the end of the line not down but upwards.
The letters “H” and “S” are uppercase, and the rest are lowercase. Following the word are two lines, so the inscription looks as if it is nailed to the rails. This impression is created thanks to the 3D effect in which the logo is made. The darkening of the field is uneven, with intensification along the upper and right edges.
1968 – 1999
Interestingly, two emblems appeared almost immediately during this period: one in an extended version and another in a minimalist one. The full symbolism included a graphic and textual part. This was the double name “Hennes Mauritz,” obtained after another company joined the main one. The words are placed separately from each other to the left and right of the trademark and are executed in a thin font in the upper case. Between them is the abbreviation “H&S,” which is divided by an ampersand and placed in an uneven circle.
The second logo is short and bright. If the first version is presented in black and white, this one is in rich red. It contains the letters “H & S,” executed with careless brush strokes – just like in the previous version.
1999 – today
The logo of that time acquired saturated colors: designers replaced scarlet with dark red. The letters were slightly adjusted and elongated, and the tilt to the right was slightly increased.
H&M: Interesting Facts
H&M (Hennes & Mauritz AB) is a multinational clothing retail company known for its fast-fashion clothing for men, women, teenagers, and children. It operates in numerous countries around the globe, offering a wide range of fashion items and accessories at affordable prices. Here are some interesting facts about H&M:
- Foundation and Evolution: Founded in 1947 by Erling Persson in Västerås, Sweden, the company initially opened under the name “Hennes,” which is Swedish for “hers,” indicating that it originally sold only women’s clothing. The company expanded its offerings to include men’s and children’s clothing after acquiring the hunting apparel retailer Mauritz Widforss in 1968, leading to the name change to H&M.
- Global Presence: H&M is one of the world’s largest clothing retailers, with thousands of stores across more than 60 countries. Despite its Swedish origins, H&M has a significant presence in every major global market, adapting its fashion offerings to cater to local tastes and preferences.
- Sustainability Initiatives: H&M has been a front-runner in the fast-fashion industry. The company launched its Conscious Collection in 2010, which uses sustainable materials such as organic cotton and recycled polyester. H&M aims to become “climate positive” by 2040, reducing more greenhouse gas emissions than its value chain emits.
- Fashion Innovation: H&M is known for collaborating with high-end fashion designers and brands, making designer fashion more accessible to a broader audience. These collaborations have included collections with designers like Karl Lagerfeld, Versace, Alexander Wang, and Balmain.
- Garment Collecting Program: Since 2013, H&M has encouraged customers to recycle their old clothes through its garment collecting initiative. Customers can bring bags of used garments to H&M stores worldwide, helping to reduce waste and promote recycling in the fashion industry.
- Digital Transformation: Embracing digital innovation, H&M has invested in technology to enhance the shopping experience. This includes using artificial intelligence (AI) for inventory management, augmented reality (AR) in its app to preview products, and initiatives to improve its online shopping platform.
- H&M Foundation: Established in 2013 by the Stefan Persson family, founders and main owners of H&M, the H&M Foundation is an independent organization dedicated to creating positive change within fashion and society. The Foundation works on education, clean water, equality, and sustainability initiatives.
- Diverse Brand Portfolio: Besides its flagship H&M brand, the company operates other brands, including COS, & Other Stories, Monki, Weekday, ARKET, and Afound. Each brand offers a unique market position and caters to different customer segments.
- Art and Culture Collaborations: H&M has collaborated with artists and cultural institutions. These collaborations have included limited-edition collections and sponsorships of exhibitions, showcasing the intersection between fashion, art, and culture.
- Innovative Store Concepts: H&M continuously experiments with store concepts to enhance customer experiences. This includes flagship stores in major cities with unique architectural designs and layouts, pop-up stores, and technology integration for a seamless shopping experience.
H&M’s blend of affordability, fashion-forward designs, sustainability efforts, and global reach has solidified its position as a key player in the fast-fashion industry, even as it faces the challenges of changing consumer behaviors and the push for more sustainable practices in fashion.
Font and Colors
The modern version consists only of letters and an ampersand, so the developers paid great attention to the font. It is individual and italicized. Its distinctive feature is the crossbar of the letter “H,” which is much wider than usual in classic writing and extends beyond the vertical sides. In particular, the developers focused on simplicity, energy, youth, and passion, which influenced the choice of color.
The “H&M” inscription on the logo is done in a personalized font. The letters are drawn, not printed; the strokes are of uneven thickness and resemble brush strokes. The horizontal bar of the letter “H” is slanted and extends far beyond the two vertical lines. Although the font was created specifically for the company, it vaguely resembles Dom Diagonal by Peter Dombrizian.
As for colors, H&M prefers bright reds and whites. The first is used for the inscription, and the second serves as a contrasting background. But it wasn’t always so: until 1968, the emblem was black and white.
H&M color codes
| Venetian Red | Hex color: | #cc071e |
|---|---|---|
| RGB: | 204 7 30 | |
| CMYK: | 0 97 85 20 | |
| Pantone: | PMS 1795 C |
FAQ
What does the H&M logo mean?
The H&M logo embodies the company itself, as it contains nothing but its name. The casual yet stylish design of the inscription symbolizes youth and energy, as the brand’s main target audience is students and teenagers.
Who created the H&M logo?
Who created the original H&M logo is not disclosed. It is only known that in 1999, it was updated by designers from an independent Swedish agency, BVD. They slightly adjusted the lines, making the letters more harmonious.
Why is the H&M logo red?
The creators of the H&M logo made it red to make it bright and memorable. Thanks to such a color solution, the symbol immediately attracts attention.
What does the H&M slogan represent?
One of the latest H&M slogans is “I love GBV.” The abbreviation hides the name of the designer Giambattista Valli, although the public associates “GBV” with gender-based violence, which causes scandals.
