Buying production
H&M does not own any factories. Instead, clothes and other products are bought in from around 700 independent suppliers, primarily in Asia and Europe.
The buying department plans the range, but the practical aspects are then dealt with by H&M’s production offices. The production offices, where most of the employees are drawn from the local population, keep in constant contact with the suppliers.
The production offices are responsible for placing the order with the right supplier and for the items being produced at the right price, being of good quality and being delivered at the right time. They also carry out checks to ensure that production takes place under good working conditions. Ensuring the safety and quality of the items also takes place at the production offices and is the result of extensive testing, including checking for shrinkage, twisting and colourfastness, as well as checking that the chemical requirements have been met.
Right lead time for each item
The lead time can vary from two to three weeks up to six months. It is important to know the right time to order each item. A short lead time is not necessarily best, since the right lead time is always a matter of getting the right balance between price, time and quality.
For high-volume fashion basics and children’s wear it is advantageous to place orders far in advance. Trendier garments in smaller volumes require considerably shorter lead times.