Marimekko Investor Relations Material

Marimekko was formed in 1951 when designers Riitta Immonen and Maija Isola helped Armi Ratia to host her first fashion show—an instant success. They impressed their customers with the clean cuts, pleasing patterns, and bright colors used by Ratia when developing bold new patterns for her husband's small printing company—the birth of the iconic Marimekko floral patterns.

This Finnish design house today operates a product portfolio, including high-quality clothing, bags, and accessories, as well as home decor items. You find about 150 Marimekko stores worldwide, and their online store serves customers across 35 countries. The key markets are Northern Europe, the Asia-Pacific region, and North America.

In 1960 everyone's eyes were on the US presidential election. Marimekko, however, was in full production mode, as John Kennedy’s wife, Jacqueline, had bought not one but seven Marimekko dresses. Her purchase made the news headlines; Marimekko became an overnight sensation and was featured in international fashion magazines like Elle, Vogue, and Harper’s. 

Marimekko is highly seasoned in licensing, and it has been an integral part of their business since the 1970s. For example, they have partnered with high-profile names such as Converse, Banana Republic, Target, Uniqlo, and Adidas. They have also launched limited-edition collections, making the Marimekko brand known globally.

The company has a market cap of €392 million. It has increased their revenue by 97 percent in the last ten years and EBIT by 785% in the same period, meaning that the company has converted a more significant percentage of revenue into profits. This could imply improved cost efficiency or the company's ability to set higher unit prices on their products.