Marimekko and Spinnova introduce demo products

“Sustainability starts with design. At Marimekko, we believe that timeless and long-lasting design that brings joy to our customers for many years is also a sustainable choice. The work to maximise a product’s life cycle and make it as sustainable as possible begins on the designer’s drawing board and material choices play an important role in this. The Marimekko textile printing factory in Helsinki, which serves not only as our production facility but also very much as our creative hub, offers us unique opportunities to actively participate in research and development projects taking the textile industry towards a more sustainable future. Together with Spinnova we have been able to take major steps in developing new sustainable materials from wood-based fibres, and we are proud to present the Marimekko prototype outfits made of these transformational sustainable fabrics and featuring our distinctive, bold patterns,” said Minna Kemell-Kutvonen, design and product development director of prints and home products at Marimekko.

The denim-like jacket and bag sporting the monochromatic Unikko print as well as the striped jersey shirt, all in strong primary colours of blue and red, comprise the timeless design elements of Marimekko. Playing with these classics, Marimekko’s ready-to-wear designer Riikka Buri gave the demo products a modern twist with oversized proportions and fresh colour combinations. Both the woven and the jersey fabric used in these products were made of the Spinnova fibre (combined with cotton and/or lyocell). The outfits were designed, printed and manufactured by Marimekko at the Marimekko House in Helsinki, Finland.

“Having a brave, expert partner like Marimekko’s view on the fibre and the applications it suits early on has been very valuable to us. Introducing the first prototypes with a globally renowned, iconic brand like this is a very proud moment for the Spinnova team,” said Spinnova’s CEO and co-founder Janne Poranen.

As part of its ambitious sustainability agenda, one of the key objectives of Marimekko is to continuously increase the share of sustainable cotton and other more sustainable materials in its products and packaging. The Spinnova fibre represents a very promising new sustainable material innovation.

With Spinnova’s technology, wood pulp can be spun into textile fibre without regenerating, dissolving or harmful chemicals. The method is considerably less of a strain on the environment than e.g viscose or cotton production. The manufacture of the Spinnova fibre consumes some 99 per cent less water than cotton production. A fabric made with Spinnova fibre is fully circular post-consumer and biodegrades quickly, which further reduces the environmental footprint of the fibre’s entire life cycle.

Spinnova is a Finnish, sustainable fibre company that develops ecological breakthrough technology for manufacturing cellulose-based textile fibre. Spinnova’s patented technology includes 0 per cent harmful chemicals and 0 per cent waste or side streams, making the fibre and the production method the most sustainable in the world. The fibre is also recyclable with the Spinnova process without harmful chemicals. Spinnova’s raw material commitment is to only use certified wood or waste streams. Spinnova has been awarded e.g. a World Changing Idea by the Fast Company in 2019, as well as Sustainability Achievement of the year by the ISPO and Scandinavian Outdoor Awards in 2020.

Marimekko is a Finnish lifestyle design company renowned for its original prints and colours. The company’s product portfolio includes high-quality clothing, bags and accessories as well as home décor items ranging from textiles to tableware. When Marimekko was founded in 1951, its unparalleled printed fabrics gave it a strong and unique identity. Marimekko products are sold in about 40 countries.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (PC)