H&M back on Alibaba's Tmall after Xinjiang controversy

Swedish retailer yanked from Chinese shopping platform for rights-abuse comments

Chinese consumers and high-profile celebrities boycotted H&M and other international clothing brands after they refused to use Xinjiang-produced cotton in their garments. (Source photo by Getty Images)

CISSY ZHOU, Nikkei staff writer

August 16, 2022 18:30 JST

HONG KONG -- Swedish fashion retailer H&M has quietly returned to Alibaba's Tmall online sales platform, 16 months after the Chinese e-commerce group banned it over the brand raising concerns about human rights abuses in far-western Xinjiang province.

It was not clear when or why the ban was lifted although Chinese media first reported last week that the retailer's online shop had reopened on the popular platform. H&M and Alibaba both declined to comment on Tuesday.