If you’ve ever that dreamed brands would have a one-stop shop for their vintage and second-hand pieces then Marimekko is your fantasy come true. The Finnish brand is launching its very own online platform for vintage and second-hand goods, aptly named Marimekko Pre-loved.
This new endeavor sees the brand taking a back seat and placing the steering wheel in the hands of the community. The marketplace has been developed so both peer-to-peer and independent B2C vendor sales can happen in one centralized location. With this move, the lifestyle design company aims to make the lifespan of its pieces even longer.
“The launch of Marimekko Pre-loved marks an important step in our ambitious sustainability journey to further lengthen our product lifetime and contribute to the circular economy,” explains Suvi-Elina Enqvist, Head of Innovation Works at Marimekko. “We are truly excited to introduce this inspiring, community-driven marketplace to people who love secondhand and vintage treasures and share a passion for bold prints and colors.”
With the launch of Marimekko Pre-loved, the brand implements one of the guiding principles of its sustainability strategy: Timeless design brings joy for generations to come. This concept proposes that throughout their lifespan, Marimekko products bring happiness to the lives of multiple generations of customers, ending with them being recycled and used to make new items.
“Marimekko’s design philosophy and operations have always been based on a sustainable approach – we want to provide our customers with timeless, functional and durable products that bring them long-lasting joy and that they will not want to throw away,” Enqvist continues. “Marimekko Pre-loved is a concrete example of our timeless design as it will enable our community to find pre-owned treasures, offering a new conscious and convenient alternative to bring joy to people’s everyday life through colors and prints.”
After an initial test run last August, where it sold 60 distinct vintage pieces online to celebrate its 70th anniversary, the brand is making it a permanent feature. It is initially set to launch solely in Finland, but the service is meant to expand to other markets in the foreseeable future. To mark this launch, the brand is also releasing a curated collection of vintage dresses, ranging from the 1960s to the 2000s, that will be sold on the new platform.
Set to launch on August 25, the digital second-hand space is free to use and sellers can either take their earnings directly or trade them for a gift voucher to be used on the brand’s website.