H&M manufactures 80% of its retail inventory in advance and introduces the remaining 20% based on the most current market trends. The retail giant's ability to offer affordably priced apparel is largely due to its strong supplier relationships and its manufacturing strategies to reduce lead times.
The most admirable characteristic of H&M is its ability to collaborate efficiently with its partners. Not having any factories of its own, it utilises over 700 partner companies in more than 20 countries, relying on a network of external suppliers to manage its buying and production. H&M purchases garments from around 750 suppliers, with 60% of production taking place in Asia and the remainder mainly in Europe