Just when we thought H&M could do no wrong, our favorite cheap chic chain goes and lets us down.

An article in today’s New York Times exposed a horrific practice at the H&M in Herald Square: the store destroys brand new clothing on a nightly basis and dumps it outside the store where homeless people pick through it and try to salvage something they can wear.  H&M doesn’t just throw the stuff away in a dumpster.  They slash all of it with box cutters or razors to make sure no one can wear or sell it. Gloves with the fingers cut off.  Warm, insulated coats slashed across the body and arms.  Little girls’ Mary Janes cut through the instep.

We don’t know where to begin.  Many years ago I accompanied my mom to exchange a defective Kate Spade bag at Nordstrom back in the height of Kate Spade’s coolness.  I questioned the SA about what would be done with the defective bag.  Would it be sent to a discount retailer?  Donated?  The answer: the bag was to be sent back to the factory where it would be burned.  We can see the rationale in destroying defective designer merchandise to control the quality of the goods sold to the public, but H&M merchandise?  Really?

We cannot imagine what it would be like to endure the hardships faced by the homeless and other poverty stricken people, and it is revolting to know that H&M, the world’s third-biggest clothing retailer, engages in such an abhorrent practice.

Although H&M didn’t respond to 10 inquiries from the Times in connection with this article, the company finally responded this afternoon on its Facebook page after someone posted a link to the NYT article.  The company stated in part: “Our policy is to donate any damaged usable garments to charity. We’re currently investigating an incident in a NY store that is not representative of our policy.”

We hope something changes fast.  We really love shopping at H&M, and this disgusting custom of slashing unwanted clothing makes us feel really badly about that.

A Clothing Clearance Where More Than Just the Prices Have Been Slashed [NYT]

The premise: wear the same black dress every day for an entire year.

The creator: New Yorker Sheena Matheiken.

The purpose: raise money for the Akanksha Foundation, a nonprofit organization that funds educational expenses for children living in the slums of India.

The end product: The Uniform Project.

Sheena Matheiken grew up in India where uniforms were required in schools.  As an exercise in sustainable fashion and to gather donations, Matheiken launched The Uniform Project in May – she wears the same black dress every day and posts images of her daily outfits online.

Matheiken’s friend Eliza Starbuck custom designed the cotton dress and produced seven identical versions of it.  The dress has buttons running down the center and can be worn with buttons facing front or back.   And, like many amazing dresses, it has pockets.  If it is ever mass produced, I know I’d be among the first in line to buy it.

Since Matheiken began this project almost four months ago, she has raised over $11,000 (her site keeps a running tally of money raised to date).

From a style perspective, what’s most impressive is Matheiken’s ability to accessorize the hell out of this dress.  The girl rocks tights, socks, belts, vests, sweaters and even crazy head gear.  Her ensembles are mind blowing.  I can attest to becoming entranced when clicking through the daily images on her site.  Some days it’s hard to tell she’s even wearing the LBD.

Makes you feel kind of sheepish about wearing the same thing to work every day, doesn’t it?

Images via The Uniform Project