Latest news with #H&MGroup
The Irish Sun
31-07-2025
- Business
- The Irish Sun
Opening of major flagship store in Dublin city postponed for ‘few more weeks'
THE opening of a major flagship store in the capital has been postponed for "a few more weeks". Arket, located at the junction of Dawson Street and Nassau Street, was due to open for the first time today. Advertisement 2 The Arket store was due to open today 2 Fashion fans will need to wait a few more weeks Bosses have said the launch date has been delayed "until further notice". A new opening date is expected to be announced shortly. Managing Director Pernilla Wohlfahrt previously said: "We are very excited to announce this upcoming store opening of our Arket flagship store in Dublin and to finally meet our Irish customers face-to-face. "The store will enable us to present our full brand experience and build a closer relationship with them." Advertisement READ MORE IN MONEY Founded in 2017 by the H&M Group, Arket is a curated, design-led brand that brings together clothing, interiors, accessories and Known for minimalist fashion and homeware, the company said its focus is on clean lines, timeless staples and sustainability, offering pieces that are made to last. Until now, Irish shoppers could only access the brand through its website or while The store spans 810 square metres across two floors, making it one of Arket's largest locations in Europe to date. Advertisement Most read in Money And it's designed to reflect the brand's calm aesthetic with soft greys, natural oak finishes, structured displays and plenty of open space. The cafe will offer a seasonal vegetarian-focused menu inspired by Nordic food with pastries, open sandwiches and organic coffee. The brand describes itself as a 'modern-day market' - a place where fashion, interiors and food come together under one curated experience. Meanwhile, a popular restaurant in the capital has announced its Advertisement Karen's Gone Wild on They wrote on Instagram: "After a wild ride, we've decided it's time to shut our doors. "Karen's will officially close after Sunday, August 3rd - so if you've ever wanted to experience the madness (or come back for round two), now's your last chance. "Like many independent spots, we've felt the pressure - VAT at 13.5%, rising costs, tight margins, and so much more. Advertisement "A huge thank you to everyone who supported us, shouted at us, laughed with us, and made this place what it was. "It's been unreal. Once again thank you for being part of it - we hope to see you one last time before we turn off the lights." And a number of customers rushed to the comments to share their thoughts. One said: "Absolutely gutted." Advertisement Another added: "Oh no, I am so sorry to hear this."
The Irish Sun
26-07-2025
- Business
- The Irish Sun
Watch moment men have competitive pillow fight on Dublin city street as fans ‘very excited' over new arena experience
COMPETITIVE pillow fighting has come to the streets of Dublin in a new arena experience. Located on 2 Competitive pillow fighting has come to Dublin city Credit: Journalist Collect 2 Players can fight their friends in an enclosed setting Credit: Journalist Collect One Irish rapper, who goes by @l.k2798 on He said: 'Pillow fighting on Dame Street. '#duckanddive' The first of its kind on the streets of Dublin, pillow fighting competitions like this have gained popularity - with similar ones found in London and READ MORE IN TRAVEL Participants can challenge friends, siblings or coworkers in an enclosed setting where the fun and banter flow just as much as the pillow swings. What's more, the arena includes a referee to oversee In the clip, the ref said: 'They are brothers! That makes perfect sense. 'It's an incredibly even contest! oh my goodness folks, you couldn't call this. Most read in News Travel 'It might have to go to vote at the end.' People have taken to the comment section to share their thoughts. 'Omg Dublin it's finally happening' screams fashion fan as Arket gets ready to open One person wrote: "Need to have most people in Dublin there to let their anger out." Another said: 'Lethal head movements.' NEW STORE COMING TO DUBLIN Meanwhile, a new Dublin store is set to open in just weeks as bosses have revealed the exact date - as fans say they're "very excited." The Founded in 2017 by the H&M Group, Arket is a curated, design-led brand that brings together clothing, interiors, accessories and Known for minimalist fashion and homeware, the company said their focus is on clean lines, timeless staples and sustainability - offering pieces that are made to last. Until now, Irish shoppers could only access the brand through its website or while And they are set to open a brand-new of flagship store at 60 Dawson Street, right on the corner of Nassau Street in Co Dublin. Set to open on July 31, it will be part of the new Grafton Place development - a new retail project in the heart of Dublin's city centre. The full Arket collection will be available in-store, including menswear, womenswear, This will also be the first Arket location in Ireland to include an on-site cafe that's led by Swedish chef Martin Berg.
Fashion Network
18-07-2025
- Business
- Fashion Network
H&M Group's Linda Leopold steps down as head of AI strategy after seven years
Linda Leopold exits H&M Group after seven years leading its AI strategy, including its Responsible AI program. She now focuses on consulting, writing, and speaking on the ethical implications of AI in tech, fashion, and beyond. H&M Group, the Swedish fashion giant known for its global retail footprint and tech-forward initiatives, has announced the departure of Linda Leopold, who served as Head of AI Strategy. After seven years in strategic leadership roles, Leopold is stepping down to focus on consulting, writing, and speaking engagements centered on artificial intelligence and its ethical development across industries. Leopold joined H&M Group in 2018 and held several key roles within the company's growing AI division. As Head of AI Policy, she played a critical role in launching and expanding the brand's Responsible AI program. Under her guidance, H&M Group established frameworks for digital ethics and adopted strategic approaches to implementing generative AI technologies. 'These years were extraordinary—not only because I had the opportunity to help shape H&M's AI direction, but also because I witnessed AI evolve at lightning speed,' Leopold wrote on LinkedIn. 'I'm particularly proud of building the Responsible AI program from the ground up and contributing to the global conversation on ethical AI.' Her leadership earned international recognition. In 2022, Forbes named her one of the world's nine most influential women in AI. Before her time at H&M Group, Leopold worked as an innovation strategist bridging fashion and technology and also served as editor-in-chief of the Scandinavian fashion and culture magazine Bon. 'Now it's time for the next chapter,' she added. 'With AI at such a pivotal point, I want to help guide its development across different industries and organizations.' Leopold's exit comes as H&M Group continues its push into digital innovation. Earlier this month, the brand launched a new denim capsule collection powered by digital twin technology —part of a larger strategy to integrate generative AI into storytelling and customer engagement. According to Chief Creative Officer Jörgen Andersson, the goal is to create emotional connections with consumers without diluting brand identity. The first drop debuted on July 2 via H&M's global online store, with more launches planned this fall. While investing in new technologies, H&M Group also faces mounting economic pressures. The company reported a 5% year-over-year decline in net sales for the second quarter, falling to SEK 56.7 billion. However, operating profit rose slightly to SEK 5.9 billion—beating analyst forecasts. The group also improved inventory management, though deeper price cuts are expected in the third quarter as customers become more cautious with spending. 'We're seeing greater price sensitivity among customers due to ongoing uncertainty,' Group CEO Daniel Erver said during the latest earnings call.
Fashion Network
18-07-2025
- Business
- Fashion Network
H&M Group's Linda Leopold steps down as head of AI strategy after seven years
Linda Leopold exits H&M Group after seven years leading its AI strategy, including its Responsible AI programme. She now focuses on consulting, writing, and speaking on the ethical implications of AI in tech, fashion, and beyond. H&M Group, the Swedish fashion giant known for its global retail footprint and tech-forward initiatives, has announced the departure of Linda Leopold, who served as Head of AI Strategy. After seven years in strategic leadership roles, Leopold is stepping down to focus on consulting, writing, and speaking engagements centred on artificial intelligence and its ethical development across industries. Leopold joined H&M Group in 2018 and held several key roles within the company's growing AI division. As Head of AI Policy, she played a critical role in launching and expanding the brand's Responsible AI programme. Under her guidance, H&M Group established frameworks for digital ethics and adopted strategic approaches to implementing generative AI technologies. 'These years were extraordinary—not only because I had the opportunity to help shape H&M's AI direction, but also because I witnessed AI evolve at lightning speed,' Leopold wrote on LinkedIn. 'I'm particularly proud of building the Responsible AI programme from the ground up and contributing to the global conversation on ethical AI.' Her leadership earned international recognition. In 2022, Forbes named her one of the world's nine most influential women in AI. Before her time at H&M Group, Leopold worked as an innovation strategist bridging fashion and technology and also served as editor-in-chief of the Scandinavian fashion and culture magazine Bon. 'Now it's time for the next chapter,' she added. 'With AI at such a pivotal point, I want to help guide its development across different industries and organisations.' Leopold's exit comes as H&M Group continues its push into digital innovation. Earlier this month, the brand launched a new denim capsule collection powered by digital twin technology —part of a larger strategy to integrate generative AI into storytelling and customer engagement. According to Chief Creative Officer Jörgen Andersson, the goal is to create emotional connections with consumers without diluting brand identity. The first drop debuted on 2 July via H&M's global online store, with more launches planned this fall. While investing in new technologies, H&M Group also faces mounting economic pressures. The company reported a 5% year-over-year decline in net sales for the second quarter, falling to SEK 56.7 billion. However, operating profit rose slightly to SEK 5.9 billion—beating analyst forecasts. The group also improved inventory management, though deeper price cuts are expected in the third quarter as customers become more cautious with spending. 'We're seeing greater price sensitivity among customers due to ongoing uncertainty,' Group CEO Daniel Erver said during the latest earnings call.
Fashion Network
18-07-2025
- Business
- Fashion Network
H&M Group's Linda Leopold steps down as head of AI strategy after seven years
Linda Leopold exits H&M Group after seven years leading its AI strategy, including its Responsible AI program. She now focuses on consulting, writing, and speaking on the ethical implications of AI in tech, fashion, and beyond. H&M Group, the Swedish fashion giant known for its global retail footprint and tech-forward initiatives, has announced the departure of Linda Leopold, who served as Head of AI Strategy. After seven years in strategic leadership roles, Leopold is stepping down to focus on consulting, writing, and speaking engagements centered on artificial intelligence and its ethical development across industries. Leopold joined H&M Group in 2018 and held several key roles within the company's growing AI division. As Head of AI Policy, she played a critical role in launching and expanding the brand's Responsible AI program. Under her guidance, H&M Group established frameworks for digital ethics and adopted strategic approaches to implementing generative AI technologies. 'These years were extraordinary—not only because I had the opportunity to help shape H&M's AI direction, but also because I witnessed AI evolve at lightning speed,' Leopold wrote on LinkedIn. 'I'm particularly proud of building the Responsible AI program from the ground up and contributing to the global conversation on ethical AI.' Her leadership earned international recognition. In 2022, Forbes named her one of the world's nine most influential women in AI. Before her time at H&M Group, Leopold worked as an innovation strategist bridging fashion and technology and also served as editor-in-chief of the Scandinavian fashion and culture magazine Bon. 'Now it's time for the next chapter,' she added. 'With AI at such a pivotal point, I want to help guide its development across different industries and organizations.' Leopold's exit comes as H&M Group continues its push into digital innovation. Earlier this month, the brand launched a new denim capsule collection powered by digital twin technology —part of a larger strategy to integrate generative AI into storytelling and customer engagement. According to Chief Creative Officer Jörgen Andersson, the goal is to create emotional connections with consumers without diluting brand identity. The first drop debuted on July 2 via H&M's global online store, with more launches planned this fall. While investing in new technologies, H&M Group also faces mounting economic pressures. The company reported a 5% year-over-year decline in net sales for the second quarter, falling to SEK 56.7 billion. However, operating profit rose slightly to SEK 5.9 billion—beating analyst forecasts. The group also improved inventory management, though deeper price cuts are expected in the third quarter as customers become more cautious with spending. 'We're seeing greater price sensitivity among customers due to ongoing uncertainty,' Group CEO Daniel Erver said during the latest earnings call.
