Marimekko employees, our most important resource

Responsible sourcing

In addition to in-house production, the manufacturing of our products is also outsourced. Why? Because the manufacturing of many products requires specialist expertise that we ourselves do not possess. The most capable manufacturer is always given priority in the choice for each product. The choice of production location is also influenced by manufacturing costs and quantities. Many of our subcontractors have been partners of ours for a long time. We pledge our new partners from the start to the unified Marimekko way of doing things.

The impact of globalisation on our business will continue to grow. This sets continual new demands on operations. Our stakeholders’ interest in the origin of products and the various stages of the sourcing chain has grown markedly. We also feel this is a very important matter. For this reason we have set the job of improving the corporate responsibility of sourcing chain management as the most important subdivision. In the long term it is our goal to make the entire sourcing chain more transparent, to reduce the risks of purchasing, and to further improve the management of supplier relationships.

We direct the operations of our subcontractors. As tools we use procurement contracts, a Code of Conduct based on the ethical rules of the ILO and BSCI, and quality manuals in which we have recorded quality requirements and production guidelines. We also supply our subcontractors with a list of proscribed chemicals which may not be used in the manufacture of our products. Suppliers also have to be able to guarantee the operations of their own subcontractors.

We regularly monitor the standards and certifications current for our suppliers and their products along with the origin of their raw materials and conditions of manufacturing. The main standards and certifications in our sector include, for example, ISO 9000 and ISO 14000, Social Accountability SA 8000, Öko-Tex Standard 100, and membership of the Business Social Compliance Initiative (BSCI). Of these, ISO 9000, ISO 14000 and Öko-Tex are the commonest standards used by our suppliers.

Fortunately we do not have to do this job alone. Challenges of ecological sustainability and ethical aspects related to products are considered a common concern in our sector of business. In 2011 we became a member of the Business Social Compliance Initiative (BSCI). BSCI aims to promote social responsibility and general working conditions in the supply chain. Environmental issues are also given attention to. We are also a member of project NICE (Nordic Initiative Clean and Ethical), coordinated by the Nordic Fashion Association, which provides us with further information and a forum for exchanging views on matters of responsibility with other companies.

Activity in the local community

Marimekko and its employees also act together for the benefit of the local community. In 2011, we supported the work of the Aalto University as well as the peer student activities of the Mannerheim League for Child Welfare in Finland.

The tragedy in Japan touched our hearts. To help our Japanese friends, we produced a special Unikko-patterned fabric bag and donated the proceeds from the sales of the bag to Japan through the Red Cross. The cherished classic was printed in the colours of the Finnish and Japanese flags – blue, red and white. The new, unique colourway was co-created by Kristina and Emma Isola. The bags were sewn at out factory in Kitee.