H&M Group vs Zara

H&M investigates potential cyberattack amid ShinyHunters claims

Swedish fashion retailer H&M has launched an investigation into potential cyberattack claims circulated by the hacker group ShinyHunters. The company stated that it has found no evidence of unauthorized access to its data environment so far. The claims follow a confirmed cyber incident at online fashion retailer Asos. While there is speculation that the same or linked actors may be behind both incidents, no concrete connection has been established. H&M emphasized that the allegations are not independently confirmed, and no successful attack or data theft has been proven. The company operates a complex IT infrastructure connecting online and physical retail, making cybersecurity a critical concern. Should a data breach be confirmed, statutory notification obligations could arise. The investigation is ongoing, and the outcome remains pending.

• H&M investigates potential cyberattack claims by hacker group ShinyHunters.
• H&M states no evidence of unauthorized access to its data environment so far.
• The investigation follows a confirmed cyber incident at online retailer Asos.

H&M Group Newsroom: New announcements including ELIE SAAB H&M collection, Nine-month report 2026, and first store in Paraguay

The newsroom page now features several new press releases: 'Celebrate ELIE SAAB H&M collection in Paris' (29 Sep 2026), 'H & M Hennes & Mauritz AB Nine-month report 2026' (24 Sep 2026), 'H&M teams with Nick Knight and SHOWstudio on a visually experimental London Fashion Week show' (19 Sep 2026), 'Announcing ELIE SAAB H&M: a celebration of glamour and timeless elegance' (8 Sep 2026), and 'H&M opens its first store in Paraguay' (17 Aug 2026).

Announcing ELIE SAAB H&M: a celebration of glamour and timeless elegance

H&M Group announces a new designer collaboration with ELIE SAAB, celebrating glamour and timeless elegance. Additionally, H&M opens its first store in Paraguay.

Inditex expands US presence, overtakes Hermès in market value

Spanish fashion giant Inditex, parent of Zara, Bershka, and Massimo Dutti, is aggressively expanding in the US market. CEO Oscar Garcia Maceiras stated that the US is a key growth market due to its population and importance. The company plans new stores in Denver, Phoenix, and Pittsburgh, and will introduce Massimo Dutti and Bershka to New York following a Miami launch. Inditex employs a selective growth strategy, testing demand via online orders before opening physical stores, targeting 20 projects in the US by end of 2027. The company has also surpassed Hermès in market value, reaching around €170 billion, as consumers trade down from luxury brands to more affordable options. Inditex is also competing with Shein through its Lefties brand, benefiting from the EU's removal of the customs duty exemption for non-EU parcels.

• Inditex plans to open new stores in Denver, Phoenix, and Pittsburgh, and introduce Massimo Dutti and Bershka to New York.
• Inditex's market value reached €170 billion, surpassing Hermès.
• Hermès shares fell 34% and LVMH shares fell 37% in the current year.

Inditex H1 2026: Revenue and Profit Up

Inditex, the parent company of Zara, reported continued growth in the first half of 2026. Revenue reached €19.8 billion, a 7.6% increase year-over-year (9.2% currency-adjusted). Net profit rose 6.8% to approximately €3 billion. The company saw growth in both physical stores and online sales. Zara, including Zara Home and Lefties, remained the primary revenue driver, contributing nearly 70% of total sales. Bershka and Stradivarius also showed strong performance. Europe (excluding Spain) accounted for 51.5% of sales. The company continued its retail optimization, renovating stores and investing in technology like soft-tag systems. Autumn sales started strong, with an 9% increase in the first weeks. Inditex expects a stable gross margin for the full year.

• Inditex revenue reached €19.8 billion in H1 2026, up 7.6% year-over-year.
• Net profit increased by 6.8% to €3 billion.
• Zara (incl. Zara Home and Lefties) contributed €13.78 billion in revenue.

Zara Overtakes Nike — AI Personalisation Builds Brands

Kantar’s BrandZ 2026 ranking names Zara the most valuable fashion brand, dethroning Nike; Zara’s reported brand value is 44.088 million dollars, up 18% versus 2025. Kantar cites Zara as an example of using AI-driven personalised shopping experiences — the brand launched a generative-AI virtual fitting room in 2024 that creates personalised avatars for app users. The article highlights broader industry trends: consumers increasingly start shopping via AI search tools, retailers must improve product data so AI can surface items reliably, and first-party data and retail media are gaining importance as third-party cookies decline. Google has published guidance (including a product_detail attribute and an AI Mode) and in May 2026 announced AI Performance Insights for Merchant Centre to show how products are discovered across AI surfaces. The piece argues AI can become a brand-building channel if trust, data quality, and product visibility are addressed.

• Zara overtook Nike as the most valuable fashion brand in Kantar’s BrandZ 2026 ranking; Kantar describes Zara as an example of AI-driven personalised shopping.
• Zara reached a brand value of 44.088 million dollars, a growth of 18% compared to 2025.
• Zara launched a virtual fitting room using generative AI in 2024, allowing app users to create personalised avatars to preview clothes.