H&M Quality Standards & Requirements

Part 1: Introduction
Valid for all brands in H&M Group
February 2020
H&M Quality Standards & Requirements
1 (7)
June 2018
General Information
H&M Quality Standards & Requirements GPQD-000103
Valid for all brands in H&M Group

Table of Contents
1. Introduction ....................................................................................................................................... 2
1.1. General Information ........................................................................................................................................ 2
1.2. New Versions of QS&R .................................................................................................................................... 2
1.3. Special Requirements for Specific Portions of the Order ................................................................................ 3
1.4. The Different Parts of QS&R ............................................................................................................................ 3
1.5. Definitions & Abbreviations ............................................................................................................................ 5
Changes Since Last Update.......................................................................................................................6

1. Introduction
1.1. General Information
The H&M Quality Standards & Requirements (referred to as QS&R) describes key physical properties
for all products developed by the H&M Group. Since the requirement levels are based on safety and
customer expectation the same requirements apply to products in both virgin and recycled materials.
• All H&M documents referred to in this document are found on the H&M Group Supplier Portal.
• All requirements are given in minimum value, e.g. 3-4 means equal to or higher than 3-4.
• All references to ages or size range include the highest and lowest age/size. (Example, Size 44-
98cl = size 44cl up to and including size 98cl)
• Test methods written in brackets are alternative methods considered to give equal results.
• When referred to undated test methods the latest published version is valid.
• The production must correspond to all H&M requirements and restrictions in all aspects, even
those not randomly tested.
• For tests referring to an H&M Test Method (H&M TM) the test method, sampling and definitions
are found in H&M Lab Manual1.
• H&M Group only accepts test reports from H&M in-house labs, approved supplier labs or
accredited 3rd party labs. In case of contradicting test results the test result of H&M will prevail.

1.2. New Versions of QS&R

• QS&R will be updated in January every year and is valid from the publishing date.
• The date of when the document was last updated can be found in the footer.
• At the end of each part all changes since last updated version are listed.

1 H&M Lab Manual also contain test procedures for other standard methods usually performed by H&M in-house labs.

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1.3. Special Requirements for Specific Portions of the Order

If a requirement refers to a specific portion, that selling market has a special legal requirement that
cannot be compromised. If the order does not fulfill the specific requirement it must not be shipped
to that market. Warning hangtags are not an option in these cases. However, if the order passes the
general requirement it can still be shipped to all other markets.

1.4. The Different Parts of QS&R

The H&M Quality Standards & Requirements (QS&R) is divided into 16 parts. Each part refers to a
specific area of requirements where some of them are cross-functional and can be applied in
combination with a product specific part. See examples further down in the document.

Part 1: Introduction
Part 2: Apparel
Part 3: Sport & Outdoor Apparel/Products
Part 4: Home Interior Textile & Leather Products
Part 5: Home Interior Non-Textile Products
Part 6: Accessories
Part 7: Eyewear
Part 8: Footwear
Part 9: Down & Feather
Part 10: Retro reflective function
Part 11: Toys
Part 12: Children Safety – Risks, Materials & Details
Part 13: Children Safety – Products
Part 14: Children Safety – Footwear
Part 15: Beauty Accessories & Packaging Products
Part 16: Electrical & Electronic Products
Part 17: Furnitures and Mirrors

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Examples:

Running tights with reflective print

Basic requirements:
 Part 1 – Introduction applies to all products
 Part 3 – Because it is sport apparel
Other requirements depending on style:

 Part 10 – This product has reflective print

Water bottle intended for children

Basic requirements:
 Part 1 – Introduction applies to all products
 Part 5 – Because it is a Non-Textile product
Other requirements depending on style:
 Part 12 & 13 – This product is intended for
children

Camping tent to be used outdoors

Basic requirements:
 Part 1 – Introduction applies to all products
 Part 3 – Because it is an outdoor product
Other requirements depending on style:
 N/A

Dracula outfit for children

Basic requirements:
 Part 1 – Introduction applies to all products
 Part 2 – Because it is apparel
Other requirements depending on style:
 Part 11 – This is a disguise costume and
therefore classified as a toy
 Part 12 & 13 –This is intended for children

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Footwear with LED for children

Basic requirements:
 Part 1 – Introduction applies to all products
 Part 8 – Because it is footwear
Other requirements depending on style:
 Part 14 – This is intended for children
 Part 16 – This is a battery-operated product

1.5. Definitions & Abbreviations

Expression Definition
Bed linen Includes pillow case, duvet cover and bed sheet
Bed spread & quilt Bed spreads and quilts have usually at least 2 layers stitched together, with or without filling.
Bed spreads can also be in single layer.
Blanket A blanket consists of either one or two layers of fabric with no padding.
Bonded seams Textiles joint by locally applied adhesive
CF Colour Fastness
CFU Colony Forming Units
CIL (mcd/lux) Millicandela per lux
cl Centilong
Costume jewellery Jewellery designed for wear with current fashions and usually made of inexpensive materials
rather than real gold, silver or diamonds.
Cushion All cushions with filling, including both separately sold cushions and those sold inside a
cushion cover.
Cushion cover Removable cover used for decorative/scatter cushions.
Duvet/comforter To be placed inside a duvet cover.
Flatware Products intended for food contact with an internal depth of 25 mm or less. For example
plates.
FTD Fabric Technical Data
Functional outerwear Winter overalls, rainwear, ski wear including hats & gloves. One or more functions are
requested e.g. waterproof, water resistant, water repellent, windproof, breathable.
Functional wear Sportswear, winter overalls, rainwear, ski wear including hats & gloves. One or more
functions are requested e.g. waterproof, water resistant, water repellent, windproof,
breathable.
H&M TM H&M Test Method
Holloware Products intended for food contact with an internal depth of more than 25 mm. For example
cups, mugs, ovenware and vases.
Home Interior Textile & Products made of textile and/or leather that are intended to be used in a home
Leather Products environment. For example; bed linen, tea towels, rugs, table cloths, hammocks etc.
Home Interior Non- Products made of other materials than textiles that are intended to be used in a home
Textile Products environment. For example; candles, flower pots, vases, cake plates, insulated flasks etc.
Leather Hide or skin with its original fibrous structure more or less intact, tanned to be imputrescible,
where the hair or wool may or may not have been removed, whether or not the hide or skin
has been split into layers or segmented either before or after tanning and where any surface
coating or surface layer, however applied, is not thicker than 0.15mm.
Microfibre A fibre or filament of linear density below 1.3 dtex (decitex).
Neon colour Colour containing optical brightening agents.
Nightwear Bathrobes including towel with cap, dressing gowns, night shirts, night dresses and pyjamas.

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OBA Optical Brightening Agents

Peached fabric Fabric treated mechanically or chemically to create a soft hand feel. To get the desired hand
feel the fabric is brushed after the finishing process by using automated machinery or
chemicals. Example: fake suede etc.
Pile fabric Fabrics made of upright loops or strands of yarn which are raised on the surface of the fabric
and usually give a plush feel. Example: bath towel, velvet, velour, corduroy, fake fur etc.
Pillow Inner pillow, intended to support the head when lying or sleeping, to be used inside a pillow
case.
Plain surfaced fabrics Textile fabrics which does not have an intentionally raised fiber or yarn surface such as a pile,
nap, or tuft, but shall include those fabrics that have fancy woven, knitted or flock-printed
surfaces.
Precious metals Gold(Au), Silver(Ag), Platinum(Pt), Palladium(Pd), Rhodium(Rh), Ruthenium(Ru), Iridium(Ir),
Osmium(Os)
Pyjama One or two-pieced nightwear with legs
Raised surfaced fabrics Textile fabrics with an intentionally raised fiber or yarn surface, such as a pile, including
flocked pile, nap, or tufting.
Reflective material Material that reflects light back to its source with a minimum of scattering
Sculptured candle A pillar candle or tapper candle with a sculpture on the surface.
Shaped candle Candle shaped like something else than a usual candle for example a flower, animal or
letters.
Sleep bags Full length fabric bag with neck opening and armholes but without sleeves, hood or specific
areas for feet and legs. Used in children’s indoor sleeping environment instead of other
bedding.
Solid colour One single colour
Sport & Outdoor Products that carries the H&M sport hangtag or outerwear that carries a hang tag
Apparel/Products communicating function (such as windproof, waterproof, water repellent & water resistant).
Also special products that are intended to be used in the outdoors, such as tents.
W Wales (per inch)

Changes Since Last Update

Date Change
May 2015 • Document specified to be valid for orders with OPD from August 1 st the
same year as published.
• New part added: Part 11 – Toys
• Added definition of costume jewellery and precious metal.
May 2016 • Added definition of blanket and bed spread & quilt
• Updated definition of pile fabric
• Added definition of peached fabric
• Added definition of plain surfaced fabrics
• Added definition of raised surfaced fabrics
May 2017 • New parts of QS&R added:
o Part 15: Beauty Accessories & Packaging Products
o Part 16: Electrical & Electronic Products (previously stated in
Part 6 – Accessories).
May 2018
• Sentence under 1.1 is removed. “If size 92cl or 98cl is included in the size
group 92-128cl, the requirement of the smaller size group does not apply.”

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Version history table

Version Date Valid from Changes made Page or Chapter
1 February 2019 April 2019 Implemented in new documents -
handling routine.
2 February 2020 February 2020 1.2 New versions are valid from 2
publishing date, not from 3 month
later as previous info.

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General Information