FIRST LOOK

BRACE yourselves fashionistas for today’s grand opening of Tasmania’s first H&M store.

It comes a little more than four years after the Swedish retail giant opened its first Australian store in Melbourne.

It now has more than 4300 stores in 69 countries.

The eagerly anticipated Hobart store at Cat and Fiddle Arcade is set over two levels and 2600sq m, and will carry every range of its clothing except its home range.

Hobart H&M store manager David Adams said 45 locals had been employed as he braced for a frantic opening weekend.

“We are expecting a very busy weekend,” Mr Adams said. “The first few hundred customers through the doors will get a goodies bag.

“The public will also get to see the famous H&M tradition of an instore dance.”

Mr Adams said Hobart shoppers had been pleading for an H&M store for years.

“Just on our social media there has been a lot of love, support and excitement,” he said.

H&M country manager Hans Andersson has been in Australia since its inception and said he was excited to see Hobart finally get a store with an Adelaide store set to open later this year.

Mr Andersson said H&M was renowned not just for its fashion range but for its sustainability focus, with an aim by 2020 to use 100 per cent sustainable cotton.

“At each till we have these icollect bins where people can donate their garments,” he said.

Doors open at 10am and tea and coffee will be served.