H&M has officially opened its first-ever store in Malta, with more than 1,000 people queuing outside its new Sliema outlet on Saturday morning.The international fashion giant welcomed its first customers on 14th November at Regina on Tower Road, marking a major milestone for Malta’s retail scene.Excitement had been building in the days leading up to the launch, with a massive queue forming outside the store by 10am as shoppers eagerly waited to be among the first to experience H&M in Malta.The opening celebrations featured music from DJ Mari Mars and entertainment by Jonathan Cilia, creating a lively atmosphere outside the new store. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Lovin Malta (@lovinmalta)The first 100 people in line were treated to complimentary refreshments while waiting for the doors to open, before receiving gift cards worth up to €500 following the official ribbon-cutting ceremony.The ceremony brought together several senior representatives from Hudson Holdings and H&M Group, including Hudson Founder and Chairman Alfie Borg, CEO Chris Muscat and H&M Group Head of Franchise Linn Hoffström.The launch marks the latest milestone in Hudson’s partnership with H&M, following the group’s introduction of the Swedish fashion brand to Morocco last year.“We are thrilled to have launched in Malta and to welcome customers to H&M,” Hoffström said.“Together with our trusted partner, Hudson, we look forward to offering H&M’s fashion and quality at the best price in a sustainable way and creating inspiring shopping experiences for customers across Malta for many years to come.”Hudson Holdings Chairman Alfie Borg described the opening as the realisation of a long-standing ambition.“The H&M partnership has been part of my vision for the Hudson Group for many years, and seeing it come to life in Malta gives me tremendous satisfaction,” he said.“Following our launch of H&M in Morocco last year, bringing the brand to our home market represents another significant milestone in Hudson’s journey and a particularly proud moment for us.”Meanwhile, Hudson CEO Chris Muscat praised the teams involved in bringing the international brand to Malta, describing the opening as a proud achievement for the company.The new store offers customers a selection of fashion, sportswear and home collections, giving Maltese shoppers the opportunity to explore H&M’s products in person without travelling abroad.Store Manager Sandra Ivanovic said the excitement surrounding the launch had made the team’s preparations worthwhile.“The excitement in the store today has been fantastic! Our team has put so much care into preparing for this moment, and welcoming our first customers has made all that hard work worthwhile,” she said.Founded in Sweden in 1947, H&M has grown into one of the world’s most recognisable fashion retailers.Its arrival in Malta adds another major international name to Sliema’s shopping scene, with Hudson Holdings continuing to expand its portfolio of global fashion and sportswear brands. Have you visited Malta’s first H&M store yet?•