This week, when the Swedish clothing giant reopened its doors in Moscow shopping malls to clear off stock before leaving Russia permanently, long lines of Russian customers emerged outside the stores.

H&amp;M stopped operating in Russia following the invasion of Ukraine on February 24 along with a number of other western brands, including Ikea, Nike, and Inditex, owner of Zara. However, last week, it reopened to clear off any remaining inventory.

As reported by the Guardian, exiting Russia, its sixth-largest market, will cost the business 2 billion Swedish kronor (nearly £170 million), and 6,000 employees will be impacted.

Footage shared on Telegram by the news outlet Baza shows long lines outside H&amp;M stores in the Metropolis shopping centre and the Aviapark mall in Moscow.

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A long line of Russians snaked through a Moscow shopping center, waiting to get into H&amp;M as the fashion retailer flung open its doors for a final time to sell inventory before making a full exit from the Russian market <a href="https://t.co/nHQlu5cLai">https://t.co/nHQlu5cLai</a> <a href="https://t.co/byUrkEt0zz">pic.twitter.com/byUrkEt0zz</a>
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Irina, a client, told Reuters, "Well, it is closing, that's why we are waiting here." "I'm going to purchase whatever is available."

Ekaterina, an another shopper, said: "Unfortunately, the reason why all of this is happening is terrible. Everything else, such as how we'll survive [without H&amp;M], is worthless.

H&amp;M made the decision to temporarily reopen its stores, while the Swedish furnishing retailer Ikea decided to start an online-only sale on July 5. It rents 170 locations in Russia and has operated them directly. After Spain's Inditex, it is the second-largest fashion retailer in the world.

H&amp;M acknowledged that there had been lines outside of its stores in malls and announced that the majority of its Russian locations would reopen in August or September. They will stay open "for a limited period of time until the majority of the remaining goods has been sold," according to the plan.

After western sanctions were imposed on Moscow, H&amp;M, which began operations in Russia in 2009 and owns clothing brands such as Monki, Weekday, and Cos, halted operations there in early March. It made the decision to leave the country permanently in the middle of July as the conflict raged on and moved to eastern Ukraine, following companies like Nike.

Helena Helmersson, the CEO of H&amp;M, stated last month, "After careful analysis, we see it as impossible, given the current scenario, to continue our operations in Russia." Regarding the effect this will have on the 6,000 employees of the company in Russia, the statement "We are extremely saddened" was made.

While H&amp;M's main rival, Inditex, has yet to decide whether to permanently withdraw from the Russian market, the US-based fashion store TJX and Poland's largest fashion retailer LPP have decided to sell their companies there. It will keep an eye on the issue, its chief executive, Carlos Garca Maceiras, told shareholders last month.

(With inputs from agencies)

This week, when the Swedish clothing giant reopened its doors in Moscow shopping malls to clear off stock before leaving Russia permanently, long lines of Russian customers emerged outside the stores.

This week, when the Swedish clothing giant reopened its doors in Moscow shopping malls to clear off stock before leaving Russia permanently, long lines of Russian customers emerged outside the stores. H&M stopped operating in Russia following the invasion of Ukraine on February 24 along with a number of other western brands, including Ikea, Nike, and Inditex, owner of Zara. However, last week, it reopened to clear off any remaining inventory. As reported by the Guardian, exiting Russia, its sixth-largest market, will cost the business 2 billion Swedish kronor (nearly £170 million), and 6,000 employees will be impacted. Footage shared on Telegram by the news outlet Baza shows long lines outside H&M stores in the Metropolis shopping centre and the Aviapark mall in Moscow. A long line of Russians snaked through a Moscow shopping center, waiting to get into H&M as the fashion retailer flung open its doors for a final time to sell inventory before making a full exit from the Russian market https://t.co/nHQlu5cLai pic.twitter.com/byUrkEt0zz — Reuters (@Reuters) August 3, 2022 × Irina, a client, told Reuters, "Well, it is closing, that's why we are waiting here." "I'm going to purchase whatever is available." Ekaterina, an another shopper, said: "Unfortunately, the reason why all of this is happening is terrible. Everything else, such as how we'll survive [without H&M], is worthless. H&M made the decision to temporarily reopen its stores, while the Swedish furnishing retailer Ikea decided to start an online-only sale on July 5. It rents 170 locations in Russia and has operated them directly. After Spain's Inditex, it is the second-largest fashion retailer in the world. H&M acknowledged that there had been lines outside of its stores in malls and announced that the majority of its Russian locations would reopen in August or September. They will stay open "for a limited period of time until the majority of the remaining goods has been sold," according to the plan. After western sanctions were imposed on Moscow, H&M, which began operations in Russia in 2009 and owns clothing brands such as Monki, Weekday, and Cos, halted operations there in early March. It made the decision to leave the country permanently in the middle of July as the conflict raged on and moved to eastern Ukraine, following companies like Nike. Helena Helmersson, the CEO of H&M, stated last month, "After careful analysis, we see it as impossible, given the current scenario, to continue our operations in Russia." Regarding the effect this will have on the 6,000 employees of the company in Russia, the statement "We are extremely saddened" was made. While H&M's main rival, Inditex, has yet to decide whether to permanently withdraw from the Russian market, the US-based fashion store TJX and Poland's largest fashion retailer LPP have decided to sell their companies there. It will keep an eye on the issue, its chief executive, Carlos Garca Maceiras, told shareholders last month. (With inputs from agencies)

WATCH | Mad rush in Moscow as shoppers take last chance to shop at H&M

Sweden's H&amp;M said Wednesday it wanted to regain the trust of people in China after a boycott over its decision to stop sourcing cotton from Xinjiang, but it came under renewed fire on Chinese social media.

H&amp;M and other fashion brands have been pilloried in China for statements voicing concern about allegations of forced labour in cotton fields in the far west region.

Chinese celebrities and tech firms pulled partnerships with H&amp;M, Nike, Adidas, Burberry and Calvin Klein. H&amp;M was even erased from Chinese shopping apps.

"We are working together with our colleagues in China to do everything we can to manage the current challenges and find a way forward," H&amp;M said in a statement.

"We are dedicated to regaining the trust and confidence of our customers, colleagues, and business partners in China," it said.

Rights groups say more than one million Uyghurs and other mostly Muslim ethnic minorities have been held in internment camps in Xinjiang, where they have also been forced to work in factories.

"We want to be a responsible buyer, in China and elsewhere, and are now building forward-looking strategies and actively working on next steps with regards to material sourcing," H&amp;M said.

H&amp;M had announced its decision to stop getting cotton from Xinjiang last year, but its statement resurfaced last week as China traded sanctions and recriminations with Western nations over the troubled region.

The company was lambasted again Wednesday on Weibo, China's tightly controlled equivalent of Twitter.

The hashtag for "H&amp;M's latest statement doesn't mention Xinjiang" was the top search on Weibo, with more than 35 million views.

- 'Very important market - 
H&amp;M makes around six percent of its revenue in China, which is home to nearly 10 percent of its stores.

China had become H&amp;M's third biggest market before the boycott.

The company has not released the figures on the financial impact of the boycott or which measures it has taken in response to the controversy.

"China is a very important market to us and our long-term commitment to the country remains strong," H&amp;M said, noting it has been present in the country for more than 30 years.

The statement was issued on the sidelines of quarterly results which showed a net loss of 1.07 billion kronor (104 million euros, $123 million) in the December to February period due to the coronavirus pandemic, with a 27 percent drop in revenue.

In late March, about 1,500 of the company's 5,000 stores were temporarily closed due to coronavirus restrictions, H&amp;M said.

Sales, however, jumped 55 percent in March compared to the same month last year.

The company said it was expecting a strong recovery this year as conditions around the pandemic improve.

Australian Olympians were the latest to be embroiled in the row on Wednesday as the country revealed its uniforms for the upcoming Tokyo Games.

The Australian Olympic committee faced criticism as it rolled out ASICS-branded sportswear, with the company facing questions over its use of cotton from the Xinjiang region.

The vice president of the olympic committee said it had been assured that none of the cotton came from that region.

Sweden's H&M said Wednesday it wanted to regain the trust of people in China after a boycott over its decision to stop sourcing cotton from Xinjiang, but it came under renewed fire on Chinese social media.

Sweden's H&M said Wednesday it wanted to regain the trust of people in China after a boycott over its decision to stop sourcing cotton from Xinjiang, but it came under renewed fire on Chinese social media. H&M and other fashion brands have been pilloried in China for statements voicing concern about allegations of forced labour in cotton fields in the far west region. Chinese celebrities and tech firms pulled partnerships with H&M, Nike, Adidas, Burberry and Calvin Klein. H&M was even erased from Chinese shopping apps. "We are working together with our colleagues in China to do everything we can to manage the current challenges and find a way forward," H&M said in a statement. "We are dedicated to regaining the trust and confidence of our customers, colleagues, and business partners in China," it said. Rights groups say more than one million Uyghurs and other mostly Muslim ethnic minorities have been held in internment camps in Xinjiang, where they have also been forced to work in factories. "We want to be a responsible buyer, in China and elsewhere, and are now building forward-looking strategies and actively working on next steps with regards to material sourcing," H&M said. H&M had announced its decision to stop getting cotton from Xinjiang last year, but its statement resurfaced last week as China traded sanctions and recriminations with Western nations over the troubled region. The company was lambasted again Wednesday on Weibo, China's tightly controlled equivalent of Twitter. The hashtag for "H&M's latest statement doesn't mention Xinjiang" was the top search on Weibo, with more than 35 million views. - 'Very important market - H&M makes around six percent of its revenue in China, which is home to nearly 10 percent of its stores. China had become H&M's third biggest market before the boycott. The company has not released the figures on the financial impact of the boycott or which measures it has taken in response to the controversy. "China is a very important market to us and our long-term commitment to the country remains strong," H&M said, noting it has been present in the country for more than 30 years. The statement was issued on the sidelines of quarterly results which showed a net loss of 1.07 billion kronor (104 million euros, $123 million) in the December to February period due to the coronavirus pandemic, with a 27 percent drop in revenue. In late March, about 1,500 of the company's 5,000 stores were temporarily closed due to coronavirus restrictions, H&M said. Sales, however, jumped 55 percent in March compared to the same month last year. The company said it was expecting a strong recovery this year as conditions around the pandemic improve. Australian Olympians were the latest to be embroiled in the row on Wednesday as the country revealed its uniforms for the upcoming Tokyo Games. The Australian Olympic committee faced criticism as it rolled out ASICS-branded sportswear, with the company facing questions over its use of cotton from the Xinjiang region. The vice president of the olympic committee said it had been assured that none of the cotton came from that region.

H&M says 'dedicated to regaining trust' in China after boycott

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WATCH | Mad rush in Moscow as shoppers take last chance to shop at H&M

H&M says 'dedicated to regaining trust' in China after boycott