Marimekko Corporation, Press release, 21 September 2017 at noon
“I really don’t sell clothes. I sell a way of living. They are designs, not fashions. … I sell an idea rather than dresses.” – Armi Ratia, founder of Marimekko, 1963
Marimekko launches its spring/summer 2018 ready-to-wear collection at Paris Fashion Week in Palais de Tokyo on Sunday 1 October 2017. The presentation draws on the Finnish design house’s very essence, the art of print making.
“Since the very beginning, we have fostered the idea of a creative community as we have gathered designers from different backgrounds to create something new together. We think this is something unique also in today’s world. The sense of doing things together is essential to our design philosophy. Marimekko’s art of print making is built on the clever use of colours and strikingly inventive patterns that capture fascinating moments, designs that people can take as part of their everyday lives,” says Minna Kemell-Kutvonen who is heading Marimekko’s print design.
The spring/summer 2018 collection showcases Marimekko’s art of print making through a dialogue between prints: iconic archive patterns created by Maija Isola and Annika Rimala meet contemporary prints by younger-generation designers, complementing each other and making a beautiful whole. The design team drew inspiration from personal growth stories and Marimekko’s rich heritage that serves as a seedbed for its designs of today.
The prints of all cotton and linen garments in the spring/summer 2018 collection have received their final form in Marimekko’s in-house factory in Helsinki, where around a million metres of fabric are printed every year. That’s where the uniqueness of Marimekko and its art of print making lies. The printing mill serves both as a factory and as an innovative hub for Marimekko’s creative community.
“We believe that by interacting with each other, exchanging ideas in an environment where you have the freedom to express yourself, we are able to foster our unique art of print making. It has always been based on our original mission of empowering people to be happy as they are and bringing joy to their everyday lives through bold prints and colours. This has been the core of Marimekko's positive lifestyle philosophy and collections ever since the company was founded in 1951 by the visionary Armi Ratia,” says Tiina Alahuhta-Kasko, President and CEO of Marimekko.
Additional information: Asta Halme, Marimekko Communications Tel. +358 9 7587 233 asta.halme@marimekko.com DISTRIBUTION: Key media
Marimekko is a Finnish design company renowned for its original prints and colours. The company’s product portfolio includes high-quality clothing, bags and accessories as well as home décor items ranging from textiles to tableware. When Marimekko was founded in 1951, its unparalleled printed fabrics gave it a strong and unique identity. Marimekko products are sold in about 40 countries. In 2016, brand sales of the products worldwide amounted to EUR 199 million and the company's net sales were close to EUR 100 million. Roughly 160 Marimekko stores serve customers around the globe. The key markets are Northern Europe, North America and the Asia-Pacific region. The Group employs about 400 people. The company’s share is quoted on Nasdaq Helsinki Ltd. www.marimekko.com
