In 2012, Marimekko signed a partnership contract with Hong Kong-based Sidefame with the objective of opening a total of 15 Marimekko stores in China by the end of 2016. The first of these was opened in Hong Kong in May 2012 and this year will see the opening of three new stores.
The first Marimekko stores in mainland China will open in Beijing and Shanghai during the summer. The Beijing store will be located in Sanlitun Village in the Chaoyang district and the Shanghai store in the brand-new International APM mall on the popular Huaihai shopping street.
Close to the year end, the second Marimekko store in Hong Kong will open in the Elements mall situated directly above the Kowloon MTR Station. All the three new locations are highly attractive shopping and leisure centres which house a wide mix of renowned fashion and design shops.
Mika Ihamuotila, President and CEO: “Marimekko’s sales trend in the Asia-Pacific region has continued to be extremely strong. We began to make our way into the hearts of the Chinese people last year: the first Marimekko store was opened in Hong Kong in May and we were, to our knowledge, the first in the world to hold a fashion show in Shanghai’s People's Park at the end of the autumn. At the same time, we were also showcased at an exhibition entitled ‘Design Colours Life - Contemporary Finnish Design and Marimekko’ at the Shanghai Museum of Contemporary Art.
On the basis of the positive feedback we have received in Hong Kong and Shanghai, we believe that the new stores opening this year will be successful. Our objective is to build the Marimekko brand and store network systematically on a solid foundation. The enormous Chinese market clearly has room for new and attractive Nordic design brands, and I am convinced that the unique colours and patterns of Marimekko will provide a fascinating breath of fresh air for Chinese consumers.”
In 2013, Marimekko will continue to expand its operations in all its main market areas, Northern Europe, North America and the Asia-Pacific region. The intention is to open a total of 15 to 24 Marimekko stores and shop-in-shops this year. The main thrust in the expansion is on opening retailer-owned Marimekko stores and shop-in-shops. Moreover, the company will invest in developing the business of the stores it opened in 2012. In the Asia-Pacific region, the main emphasis in expansion is on China and Japan.
