Frequently Asked Questions

What does sustainability mean to Marimekko?

For us sustainability means respecting people and the environment in everything we do. Our value “fairness to everyone and everything” crystallizes our sustainability thinking. We treat people fairly, and we create products that bring joy for a long time with minimal impacts on the environment. Our long-term vision is that our operations leave no trace on the environment and that our operations and supply chain are fully transparent, starting with raw materials. Read more about our targets.

Where are Marimekko products manufactured?

A large part of Marimekko products is manufactured in the European Union. High-quality workmanship and manufacturing know-how exist in different parts of the world, and the goal of Marimekko’s sourcing is to find the most competent manufacturer for each product. Regardless of where our products are made, we want to ensure that they are manufactured in accordance with our values, respecting people and the environment. Sourcing decisions are made one collection at a time, aiming at long-term partnerships. Read more about the origin of products.

Why aren’t all Marimekko products manufactured in Finland?

Marimekko’s product range is very wide and, all the required production capacity, special machinery, manufacturing skills, materials and supplies cannot be found in Finland. Marimekko’s design and product development are done in Finland and a large part of Marimekko products is manufactured in the European Union, but high-quality workmanship and manufacturing know-how exist also in different parts of the world. As a global company we have a global manufacturing network and we aim at finding the most suitable manufacturer for each product. Regardless of where our products are made, we want to ensure that they are manufactured in accordance with our values, respecting people and the environment.

How are Marimekko products priced?

We aim at pricing our products so that as many consumers as possible have the possibility to buy them, without compromising on quality. For Marimekko and its customers, sustainability, quality and design are the most important considerations and therefore they also guide our sourcing. Product pricing is affected by many things such as the design, quality and amount of materials and supplies, technical details, manufacturing location and production volumes.

Who manufactures Marimekko products? 

Marimekko’s interior fabrics, kitchen textiles, as well as many of the fabrics used in our garments and bags, are printed in Marimekko’s own textile printing factory in Helsinki. In addition, products are manufactured by suppliers in Finland and abroad, for example in the Baltic countries, Portugal, China and Thailand. We strive for long-term partnerships with suppliers and our goal for sourcing is to find the most competent manufacturer for each product taking into account sustainability aspects such as working conditions and safety practices. Also production volumes, delivery times and production costs have an impact on sourcing. Good and competent suppliers play a key role in Marimekko’s competitiveness.

Find the list of Marimekko’s suppliers. To increase transparency, all of Marimekko products have been labeled with the country of origin since 2006.

How does Marimekko monitor the manufacturing conditions of its products?

Marimekko’s sourcing adheres to the principles of responsible sourcing. All partner suppliers must commit to follow our Supplier Code of Conduct. Many of Marimekko’s suppliers are long-term partners of the company. Communication between Marimekko and its suppliers is on-going, for example through regular factory visits by Marimekko personnel. Marimekko is also a member of the amfori BSCI initiative, which contributes to improving working conditions and social responsibility in the supply chain. Purchase agreements signed with the suppliers bind the supplier to comply with the International Labour Organization Conventions and the amfori BSCI Code of Conduct. Marimekko monitors suppliers’ compliance with these principles both self and with the help of external auditors. You can read more about Marimekko’s responsible sourcing here.

Where does the cotton used in Marimekko products originate?

The cotton for Marimekko products is sourced from around the world: from the United States, Asia, South America and Africa based on availability, quality, season and price. The base fabrics for the printing factory are mainly woven in Germany, Turkey, Pakistan and Spain. We do not accept materials, in particular cotton, from very high-risk areas. Very high-risk areas are defined in our Product Policy.

How does Marimekko ensure that cotton used in its products is produced in fair working conditions?

Marimekko is committed to respecting human rights in all its operations. Our Supplier Code of Conduct details, among other things, strict principles against child labor and forced labor. In addition, we do not accept materials, in particular cotton, from very high-risk areas. Very high-risk areas are defined in our product policies here. The cotton production chain is long, complex and challenging to trace, as raw cotton fibers are often collected from various regions and countries and blended before spinning to yarn to ensure consistent quality. Marimekko is a small player in the international cotton product market, and since Marimekko does not work directly with cotton farmers, the best way for us to contribute to the development of the sector is together with others. We were the first Finnish company to join the Better Cotton in 2013 – an international initiative, which aims at making global cotton production better for the people who produce it, better for the environment it grows in and better for the sector’s future. Read more about the initiative. We aim to use only more sustainably grown or traceable cotton by 2025 at the latest.

Which ecological materials does Marimekko offer to its customers?

We became a member of global Better Cotton in 2013, and in 2021 88 percent of the cotton sourced into our supply chain was produced according to the Better Cotton criteria. Read more about the initiative. We have also started to introduce more recycled materials into our collections, and aim to increase their share in the future. The majority of materials printed at our Helsinki printing factory are certified in accordance with the STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX®, which guarantees that they do not contain harmful chemicals for people or for environment.