Marimekko

I am a fan of Marimekko and I do try to pop in to this store tucked in on Leighton Road in Causeway Bay. Marimekko is a brand that started in Finland and has a history and philosophy of making clothes, accessories, fabrics and houseware rooted in bold, fun prints and patterns.
This spot is not large (as none of them are ever really), but it is bright and open, welcoming and well laid out. The store is probably 65% clothes and 35% housewares and accessories.
It is an easy ready to wear line I pesonally like very much.

There are two Scandinavian exports that the world loves: the first is of course Ikea and the next, Viggo Mortensen (betcha didn’t see that one coming.) but there’s a third one that the world loves because it is the artistic representation of what Scandinavia is: hopeful, simple and optimistic: Marimekko.
Hong Kong’s first standalone Marimekko store is located in Causeway bay. It carries a fair range of Marimekko’s homeware, stationery, kids and women’s wear. There is also a good selection of its classic fabrics for those who wish to bring a piece of the cheerful patterns home.
As ikea has successfully demonstrated the great quality discount Scandinavian furniture can be, one would assume Marimekko would be in a similar price range– boy, were they wrong to think this way. Marimekko is not cheap! Granted, the quality of the fabrics and ceramics are great, but they are certainly not worth this price for something so simple. No wonder there are so many counterfeit Marimekko lunch bags in town.
I’m a huge fan of their dresses as I love the fabric and the shape allows me to channel my inner Jackie O. The one thing I suppose justifies them charging US$ 500 for a simple cotton shift dress is that they actually match the patterns on the fabrics as the dress is sewn together. Bet you didn’t see that coming either.