Business Insider/Jessica Tyler Forever 21 had a massive clearance section, but it was a mess.
- Forever 21 and H&M are two of the biggest fast-fashion retailers.
- As a private company, Forever 21 doesn't release its sales numbers, but the New York Post reported in 2016 that the chain was struggling to pay its bills.
- H&M has had its own struggles lately. In the first quarter of 2018, its operating profit decreased 62%.
- The stores are both very trendy and offer similar-quality products for similar prices, but after visiting both, we found there was a clear winner between the two.
Forever 21 and H&M are giants in the world of fast fashion.
Forever 21 doesn't release its sales numbers because it's a private company, but it started showing signs of trouble in 2016 when the New York Post reported that it was struggling to pay the bills. It also closed two of its biggest California stores. In 2017, the brand shifted focus towards its concept stores. It announced plans to open 70 more locations of its discount-store chain, F21 Red, in addition to launching its beauty concept, Riley Rose.
Unlike competitor Forever 21, H&M is a public company that releases its sales numbers. In the first quarter of 2018, operating profit at H&M decreased 62% following another massive sales drop in the fourth quarter of 2017. Business Insider's Mary Hanbury reported that analysts believe H&M has a brand issue because it's not the cheapest store, and its clothes are not the best quality nor the most fashionable.
We found this held true during a recent visit to both stores. While the styles were very trendy, they varied widely in quality and price. Business Insider reported earlier this year that thrift stores often end up cluttered with fast-fashion apparel that is inexpensive and goes out of style quickly, which certainly held true for a lot of the styles available at Forever 21 and H&M.
Here's how the shopping experience compared at the two stores: