Raw Materials

The material choices made in design are surely not insignificant. Quite the contrary as they have significant social and environmental impacts. Therefore our aim is to continuously increase the share of sustainable cotton and other more sustainable materials in our products and packaging.

We are also continuously on the lookout for new sustainable raw materials.

We have drawn up product policies to guide our buyers and manufacturers in responsible raw material sourcing. It is important for us to know the origin of the materials we use and to choose more responsible alternatives whenever possible.

"Fairness to everyone and everything" is one of Marimekko's values and it also applies to the treatment of animals and the animal-derived materials used in our products.     

Cotton

Cotton is our most widely used material as approximately 80% of our textile products include cotton. We are a member of the international Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) which aims to make global cotton production more sustainable by training cotton farmers and creating demand for sustainable cotton. In 2016, about 50% of our total cotton consumption was Better Cotton.

Read more about the Better Cotton Initiative on their website.

Wool and merino wool

We favor merino wool producers who do not practice mulesing. We require our suppliers of wool and merino wool yarn to provide us with information about the origin of the raw material used for the yarn.

Leather and down

All leather used in Marimekko's products is a by-product of the food industry, and we only use down that has been certified according to the international Responsible Down Standard. We do not accept down from live-plucked or force-fed birds. We require our suppliers to provide us with information on the origin of the raw material.

Raw material research

Since 2013, Marimekko has been engaged in an ongoing Finnish research project related to the development of the Ioncell-F birch-cellulose fibre. Fabric made from this fibre is biodegradable. The Ioncell-F fabric has already been used in a prototype dress called Allu which was presented in our fashion show in 2014. In 2016, we also tested the fabric's suitability for printing.