H&M is the flagship label of H&M Group and one of the most recognized fast-fashion retailers in the world, operating thousands of stores and an expansive online platform. The brand is built on producing low-cost clothing in constant rotation, fuelling a culture of rapid trend turnover and disposability.
Behind its accessible price point, H&M’s sourcing has been tied to repeated labour abuses, including wage theft, union repression, and unsafe working conditions in supplier factories across Asia and Latin America. Environmental watchdogs have also flagged its viscose and cotton supply chains for contributing to toxic pollution and deforestation.
H&M markets itself as a leader in “sustainable fashion,” running high-profile recycling programs and pledging climate neutrality, but investigations show that overall emissions and production volumes continue to rise.
H&M Group holds a High impact rating because its very business model drives systemic harm. It helped establish fast fashion as a global norm—encouraging overproduction, overconsumption, and exploitative labor practices at scale. Its environmental footprint is staggering, with rising emissions despite sustainability marketing. Reports from Oxfam and Clean Clothes Campaign reveal worker exploitation, low wages, and child labor across sourcing regions like Myanmar, Brazil, and Bulgaria.
H&M’s harm is driven by volume, acceleration, and profit over people, making its global impact especially severe.
Stepping away from the convenience of fast fashion works best when you slow your shopping pace, focus on versatile pieces that last, and keep a shortlist of brands with transparent sourcing and fair labour practices. If shopping at more ethical stores is out of reach, choose the least harmful fast-fashion option you can find, prioritizing higher-quality items you intend to keep for years. The goal is to buy less, choose better, and source smarter, not to eliminate new purchases altogether.
Try these brands:
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Tentree
MATE the Label
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Able
Neu Nomads
Whimsy + Row
The Common Good Company
OMNES
Dedicated
CHNGE
Yes Friends
Honest Basics
Toad&Co
Afends
Dawn Denim
Wildflo Studio