Marimekko’s Japanese collaborator Look Inc. opened the first Marimekko-concept store in Japan in Tokyo in the trendy Omotesando district on 4 March 2006 with great success. The stores of the largest global brands have concentrated in the Omotesando area. The new 180 m2 store shows Marimekko’s entire product concept: clothing, interior decoration and bags.

Next a 120 m2 Marimekko-shop-in-shop store will be opened in Kyoto in the Fujii Daimaru department store on 21 April 2006 and a 330 m2 concept store will open its doors in Osaka in the Minamisenba district on 26 April 2006. During 2006 Marimekko-concept stores will be opened also in Hakata (Fukuoka) in September and in Kobe in October.

Look Inc. has planned to open altogether 10-15 Marimekko-concept or shop-in-shop stores during the coming years. Marimekko signed a co-operation agreement with the Japanese companies Mitsubishi Corporation and Look Inc. in June 2005. The contract grants Mitsubishi Corporation the exclusive right to import and Look Inc. the exclusive right to retail and distribute all Marimekko goods in Japan.