Update, 17/08: We have a date in sight!
H&M has announced their first New Zealand store will open for trading at 10am on 1 October 2016. The two-storey store, located at Auckland’s Sylvia Park shopping precinct, will showcase apparel and accessories for Women, Men, Youth and Kids. They will also be stocking the coveted H&M AW16 Studio collection that showed during Paris Fashion Week earlier this year and the Modern Essentials selected by David Beckham collection.
Update, 14/10: H&M has confirmed the first New Zealand store location will be at Sylvia Park in Auckland, opening late 2016. More details will follow closer to the opening date – you can bet FQ will have the inside word!
Original post, 25/09: Okay, so we’re trying not to hyperventilate here but word just in: Swedish retailer H&M is to launch in New Zealand in 2016!
In the company’s Global Nine Month Report released this week, H&M CEO Karl-Johan Persson says: “In parallel with our rapid online expansion we are also opening stores at a fast pace. In the fourth quarter we will open approximately 240 new stores net – which is almost three new stores per day. Next year, we plan to open stores in three new markets: New Zealand, Cyprus and Puerto Rico.”
New Zealand is obviously a hot ticket for international brands right now, as the opening of a H&M retail space would follow French Connection, Topshop, Victoria’s Secret, Nine West and Seed Heritage, who have all opened stores here in the last 12 months. Luxury jewellery brand Tiffany & Co is to open late 2016 in Auckland’s CBD.
H&M is one store we’re particularly excited to have on our doorstep – not just for the trend-led designs, wardrobe basics and affordable homewares, but let’s not forget the exciting designer collaborations fashion fans clamour to get their hands on every year (we’ll unfortunately miss the Balmain x H&M collab due out November 5).
When questioned about specific timings, locations and product availability, an H&M spokesperson responded: “At the moment we don’t have any further information other than we will be launching in New Zealand in 2016.”
FQ will update you as soon as we know more, so keep your eyes keenly peeled for news.
