Tiffany said its contract with Westfield forbids retailers "whose merchandise and/or price points are not considered to be luxury, upscale or better by conventional retail industry standards" to use or lease certain spaces within, fronting or adjacent to the tiffany and co outlet .
Although H&M is a popular, fashion-forward retailer for young adults, it is also decidedly low-price. In the lawsuit against the shopping center and parent company Westfield Group, Tiffany said: "H&M is not a luxury or upscale retailer. H&M is at best characterized as a 'popular-price' mass merchandise clothing retailer."
"The location of the H&M store will cause irreparable injury to Tiffany's business reputation as a luxury retailer, a reputation that Tiffany has enjoyed and worked hard to maintain for more than a century and a half," the lawsuit said.
A representative for H&M said the company had no comment.
Tiffany is one of the most coveted brands in the retail jewelry business, with its lineup of diamond engagement rings, chunky silver bracelets and other items. Its signature blue box tied with a white ribbon and presence in movies such as "Breakfast at Tiffany's" have made the New York jeweler a household name.