Your first look at Marimekko’s debut Paris flagship store

Marimekko’s bold and vibrant universe is about to burst into full bloom in Paris as the iconic Finnish design house opens its very first flagship store in the French capital. Nestled in the city’s hip Le Marais area, the store, officially opening its doors to the public on October 24, will offer “a window to Marimekko’s joyful way of life and art of printmaking” while serving as a bustling hub for various events, activations and personalised service, bringing a slice of Nordic design to the discerning Parisian audience.

“I could not be more excited – Paris has always been a great source of inspiration in my work,” says Rebekka Bay, creative director of Marimekko, of the brand’s latest milestone. “Entering Paris feels like a natural next step for Marimekko as we focus on scaling the brand, especially in international markets. It also feels like the right time to enter the city both from a brand perspective and because Paris has never felt more energetic and creative than right now.”

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Ahead of the flagship opening, Marimekko has gauged the scene with a pop-up at Le Bon Marché in late August, with another slated for mid-October in Galeries Lafayette to bolster the buzz before the grand debut. “We launched our capsule collection with New York-based artist Laila Gohar at Le Bon Marché during Paris Design Week and during the launch event, it was amazing to see how much anticipation there is for our arrival,” says Bay. “We know that Parisians are fearless with style and not afraid of print and colour.”

Marimekko is best known for its exuberant, saturated prints, which is the very spirit it aims to infuse into its new Paris flagship. “The Marimekko Paris flagship store is where our joyful lifestyle meets with the lively Le Marais neighbourhood – a place that feels equally loved by locals and visitors,” Bay says. “To me, this store is both a testament to Marimekko’s design thinking, but it will also act as the perfect canvas for our bold and colourful lifestyle universe.” Visitors can expect a curated, smile-inducing selection of everything from the brand’s ready-to-wear collections and accessories to homewares, with Bay heralding the Parisian debut as “an opportunity to be the truest and most unashamed version of ourselves”.

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The new store joins Marimekko’s expanding roster of flagships worldwide, from Helsinki and New York to Tokyo and Sydney, and is a testament to the growing appeal of the brand’s punchy, feel-good DNA. “Paris is one of the world’s most important fashion capitals and the opening of a flagship store in the city marks the latest step in our international expansion journey. The store will play an important role in reinforcing Marimekko’s global brand awareness,” Bay continues. “Without giving away too much ahead of the theatrical entrance to the city, I would just leave it at ‘watch this space’ and come see it for yourself.”

Marimekko's Paris flagship store opens on October 24 at 120 Rue Vieille du Temple