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Tag: Marimekko

  • Marimekko Unveils Flagship Store In Causeway Bay: A Revitalized Shopping Experience

    Marimekko Unveils Flagship Store In Causeway Bay: A Revitalized Shopping Experience

    Marimekko, the iconic Finnish design company, is globally renowned for its fashion and home decor products featuring vivid, abstract prints designed to spread an ethos of joy and positivity. This lifestyle brand is an embodiment of timeless elegance and a summery sense of joy. If you are drawn to the brand’s vibrant ‘flower power’ aesthetic, make a note of October 16 in your diary. That’s when Marimekko is set to unveil a new flagship store in Causeway Bay. This eagerly awaited launch is significant, as it symbolizes not only a new beginning for Marimekko in Hong Kong but also the company’s dedication to crafting an immersive in-store retail experience that strikes a chord with customers.

    Marimekko’s Return to Causeway Bay

    Marimekko first broke into the Hong Kong market in 2012, opening a store on Leighton Road in Causeway Bay. The forthcoming flagship store, remaining on the same street, represents a sort of homecoming for the brand. However, this is not just a return, but a stunning transformation; a fresh design and expanded offerings promise a completely reimagined Marimekko experience for its Hong Kong-based fans. Moreover, the store’s façade, centered around Marimekko’s well-known ‘Unikko’ print, will be unmissable, serving to highlight the brand’s printmaking legacy. Upon entering the shop, customers will feel as though they’ve been transported to Marimekko’s textile printing factory in Helsinki, with the striking interior design inspired by the Finnish workshop.

    What to Expect from the New Flagship

    Marimekko fans can anticipate a carefully curated collection of products, including clothing, accessories, home furnishings, and even printed fabrics — all emblazoned with the brand’s signature prints. Items featuring the ‘Unikko’ design are sure to be a hit, but the bold ‘Kivet’ and sleek ‘Tiiliskivi’ prints are expected to be crowd pleasers as well.

    At present, Marimekko has six retail sites in Hong Kong, including an outlet shop at Citygate Outlets in Tung Chung, so the new Leighton Road flagship will find itself in good company. Furthermore, according to a Marimekko Instagram post, eligible purchases will be accompanied by a complimentary Marimekko tote bag — an incentive that is sure to entice shoppers!

    Questions & Answers

    When did Marimekko first enter the Hong Kong market?
    Marimekko first entered the Hong Kong market in 2012, with a store on Leighton Road in Causeway Bay.

    What’s special about the new flagship store in Causeway Bay?
    The new flagship store represents a homecoming for Marimekko. It features a completely new design and an expanded range of offerings, promising a unique Marimekko experience for fans in Hong Kong.

    What can customers expect from the new Marimekko store?
    Customers can look forward to a carefully curated selection of products, including clothing, accessories, home goods, and printed fabrics, all featuring the brand’s signature prints.

  • Marimekko drafting SEA expansion, by entering Vietnam and Malaysia

    Marimekko drafting SEA expansion, by entering Vietnam and Malaysia

    Finnish lifestyle brand Marimekko is accelerating its expansion plan in Southeast Asia, eyeing entering Vietnam and Malaysia this year under a franchise partnership with Jaspal Group.

    The expansion, which will include the launch of online stores in both markets, comes after the brand disclosed its Singapore debut with the first store scheduled to open at Ion Orchard next month.

    “These fast-growing markets provide interesting opportunities for Marimekko’s international growth and hence support our company’s objective to scale the Marimekko business in the upcoming years,” said Natacha Defrance, Marimekko’s senior VP of Sales, Region East.

    While Marimekko’s first Vietnam stores are set to open in the Lotte Mall Westlake in Hanoi and Takashimaya shopping mall in Ho Chi Minh City later this year, the brand’s first stores in Malaysia will be located in Suria KLCC mall at Petronas Twin Towers and in The Exchange TRX mall.

    Marimekko will join Jaspal Group’s portfolio of brands, including Diesel, Melissa and Asics. The Thai retail operator has a presence in four Asian countries.

    “We see a growing interest in Asia towards the Finnish design house renowned for its bold prints and colours, so now is a good time to make Marimekko available to local consumers and tourists alike in Vietnam and Malaysia,” said Yosathep Singhsachathet, deputy CEO at Jaspal Group.

    The Finnish lifestyle brand said Asia, where it has seen growing demand for its products, is its most important geographical area for international growth. The brand has 80 stores and shop-in-shops in Asia Pacific.

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  • Finnish lifestyle brand Marimekko to enter Singapore this year

    Finnish lifestyle brand Marimekko to enter Singapore this year

    Finnish fashion and lifestyle brand Marimekko is set to make its Singapore debut with the first store and a cafe concept to open in the Ion Orchard shopping mall at the end of September.

    The Singapore launch, which will also include the opening of a local online store, is part of the brand’s global expansion plan for the next four years. The country marks Marimekko’s seventh market in the continent after Japan, Mainland China, Thailand, Hong Kong, South Korea and Taiwan.

    “Asia is the most important geographical area for Marimekko’s international growth,” the company said. “Singapore is a key city in Southeast Asia, having a wider impact for building brand awareness and positioning in Asia.”

    Marimekko will expand into Singapore in partnership with its Thai partner Tanachira, which has built the Marimekko brand in Thailand over the past eight years. Natacha Defrance, Marimekko’s senior VP of sales, region East, said Thailand is one of the fastest-growing markets for the brand in Asia.

    The company expects its net sales this year to surge in Asia Pacific, Marimekko’s second-largest market region.

    “The growing market, strong brand fit and proven track record with the loose franchise partnership model provide a good foundation for Marimekko for accelerating omnichannel growth in Asia,” the company said.

  • Third Uniqlo x Marimekko collection launches

    Third Uniqlo x Marimekko collection launches

    Uniqlo has for a third time partnered with Finnish design company Marimekko to launch a new limited-edition collection.

    The new Uniqlo x Marimekko collection offers items for women and babies in six of Marimekko’s patterns, designed by Maija Isola and Annika Rimala. The patterns feature prints with different shapes and vibrant colours, “adding a splash of fun to LifeWear”.

    “Brand collaborations with partners with whom we share values and are able to create something special for customers represent unique opportunities for Marimekko to share our design philosophy with a wide global audience,” said Tiina Alahuhta-Kasko, president and CEO of Marimekko.

    Prior to the Uniqlo x Marimekko 2020 collection, the two companies collaborated twice during previous seasons.

    “Our three seasons of working closely with Marimekko have deepened our understanding and appreciation for the Finnish fashion and design house and its art of printmaking,” said Yuki Katsuta, head of research & development at Uniqlo.

    The Uniqlo x Marimekko limited edition will be on sale from April 10.

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  • Revampad Marimekko flagship store opens in Tokyo

    Revampad Marimekko flagship store opens in Tokyo

    Marimekko Japan has relaunched its popular flagship store in Tokyo.

    The Finnish design and fashion retailer’s revamped store, located in a standalone building in the fashionable Omotesando district, is one of the most important Marimekko stores globally given Japan’s status as the company’s second-largest single market after Finland.

    Marimekko products have been sold in Japan since the early 1970s, and the past decade has seen the company make significant efforts to develop the brand with its local partner Look Inc.

    President and CEO of Marimekko Tiina Alahuhta-Kasko said the flagship, “as the embodiment of our brand,” plays a significant role in the company’s Asia-Pacific growth strategy.

    “We believe that our home-inspired store concept reflecting genuine, sustainable and cheerful values will offer an even more fascinating holistic customer experience to both existing and new friends of Marimekko.

    “Emotional and experiential stores alongside the availability provided by e-commerce are important factors in building strong brands. Consumers’ loyalty is increasingly based on the values a brand represents. In the fashion and design sector, genuineness, sustainability and timelessness are gaining prominence as consumers’ decision-making criteria in addition to personal self-expression. At Marimekko, we see these trends in consumer behaviour as a natural opportunity to stand out,” she said.

    A new store opening scheduled for the end of this month will take the total Marimekko store network in Greater Tokyo to 18. There are currently 37 Marimekko Japan stores, including an online shop.

    Check full gallery below (5 images) :

  • Marimekko Asia continues expansion

    Marimekko Asia continues expansion

    Finnish homewares retailer Marimekko says it will stick to its Asia and Middle East expansion program despite declining profits.

    “We continue our expansion in line with our internationalisation strategy, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region,” said Marimekko president Tiina Alahuhta-Kasko.

    “This year, new markets have opened up in Bangkok and Singapore as well as Dubai in the Middle East. Deliveries to Japan and the rest of Asia were on a good level in the second quarter, although sales for the whole year are forecast to be lower than in 2014.”

    Marimekko has reported a net sales growth of six per cent globally in the six months to June 30, to euro 43.6 million, driven by new stores and the development of discount outlet stores and an online shop in Finland, together with the stronger US dollar.

    Besides building its Marimekko Asia operations, the company is focusing on its eCommecre offer.

    “The development of digital business is an important part of the current stage in our strategy,” explained Alahuhta-Kasko.

    “The trend in our online sales has continued to be positive and we will continue to focus on enhancing the customer experience to make it even more inspiring and more seamless between our online and offline stores. As part of this process, we are also updating our store and service concept.”

  • Marimekko Singapore opens first retailer

    Marimekko Singapore opens first retailer

    Marimekko Singapore has opened its first retailer – within the Capitol Piazza buying centre.

    The Finnish model says this and the brand new Thailand retailer which opened in Bangkok in April, reveal its persevering with give attention to Asian enlargement.

    The corporate says it should open extra retailer-owned shops in Singapore and the remainder of Southeast Asia over the subsequent few years.

    “In our enlargement, we have now targeted at the start on areas with excessive progress potential,” says Päivi Lonka, CSO.

    “The Asia-Pacific area is our second-largest market space, and we have already got a reasonably robust foothold in East Asia. Thus, increasing into Southeast Asia felt like a pure transfer.

    “Singapore is a contemporary metropolis and really engaging to us, as it’s thought-about one of many area’s prime enterprise hubs and buying locations.”

    In April, Thailand’s first Marimekko retailer opened in Bangkok.

    “The town is in an fascinating stage of improvement from the retail viewpoint. It’s turning into an more and more essential worldwide metropolis, the place numerous high-class malls have been opened just lately,” stated Lonka.

    Marimekko merchandise are bought in 140 shops in about 40 nations and final yr, model gross sales totalled euro 187 million, with firm shops accounting for euro 94 million of that.

  • Marimekko to open two Asian flagships

    Marimekko to open two Asian flagships

    Finnish homewares specialty retailer Marimekko is to open new flagship stores in Bangkok and Singapore.

    The move marks a continuation of a concerted push into the Asia-Pacific region. Over the last three years Marimekko has expanded into China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Australia and New Zealand.

    In the first quarter of this calendar year the brand will open company-owned stores in Singapore’s new Capitol Piazza mall and in CentralWorld, Bangkok, which attracts as many as 150,000 shoppers per day.

    In Singapore, Marimekko already has a shop-in-shop which opened last November 2014 inside the Tangs department store on Orchard Rd.

    The company says it will open more stores in Asia over the next few years.

    “The opportunities afforded by the growing consumer markets of Asia play an important role in Marimekko’s internationalisation,” said president and CEO Mika Ihamuotila.

    “In our expansion in the international marketplace, we have focused first and foremost on regions with high growth potential. The Asia-Pacific region is our second-largest market area, and we already have a fairly strong foothold in East Asia. We are now aiming for two new markets in Southeast Asia.

    “Singapore is a modern metropolis and very attractive to us, as it is considered one of the region’s top shopping destinations for tourists. As an aviation gateway it also serves as an access point to many Asian countries and the city receives an enormous number of travellers,” he said.

    “The capital city of Thailand, Bangkok, is in an interesting stage of development from the retail viewpoint. A number of high-class malls have been opened in the city recently, and it is rising to be a noteworthy rival to Singapore and Hong Kong.”

    Half of the new Marimekko stores opened in 2014 were in the Asia-Pacific region: two in Hong Kong, one in Chengdu in mainland China, two in Seoul in South Korea and two in Japan. In Australia, Marimekko opened a company-owned store in Melbourne. One shop-in-shop was opened in New Zealand.