Finnish lifestyle design company, Marimekko, will launch Marimekko Pre-loved, a community-driven marketplace for Marimekko vintage and second-hand items, on August 25, 2022. Marimekko Pre-loved, in addition to peer-to-peer sales, allows independent B2C vendors to offer their Marimekko second-hand items in a single succinct platform. Marimekko hopes to enhance the lifespan of its items with the opening of the marketplace, which is one of the core components of the company's ambitious sustainability plan.

Marimekko Pre-loved builds on a pilot concept introduced in August 2021, when Marimekko auctioned 60 unique antique pieces online to commemorate the brand's 70th anniversary. Marimekko Pre-loved will initially be offered solely in the brand's native market of Finland, but it is expected to expand to other regions in the future. Marimekko is a well-known second-hand brand in Finland, and its goods are noted for their high resale value.

One of the driving concepts of Marimekko's sustainability approach is that timeless design offers delight to future generations. The company's goal is for Marimekko objects to deliver delight to many different consumers, even generations, over their lives before being recycled into new products. Marimekko Pre-loved pays homage to this timeless design concept, allowing Marimekko fans to discover new pieces from previous decades while giving existing pre-owned items a second life. Marimekko will produce a unique selection of vintage gowns from the 1960s to the 2000s from the brand's history to celebrate its debut.

Suvi-Elina Enqvist, Head of Innovation Works at Marimekko, said that Marimekko's design philosophy and operations have always been built on a sustainable approach - they aim to present their consumers with timeless, useful, and durable items that will provide them long-term delight and that they will not want to throw away. Marimekko Pre-loved is a tangible example of their timeless design because it will allow their community to find pre-owned treasures, offering a new conscious and convenient alternative to bring joy to people's everyday lives through colors and prints.

Enqvist added that the launch of Marimekko Pre-loved is a significant milestone in their ambitious sustainability path to extend the life of their products and contribute to the circular economy. They’re beyond thrilled to present this inspirational, community-driven marketplace to folks who adore secondhand and antique treasures and have a penchant for vivid designs and colors.

It will be free to join and list goods on the digital Marimekko Pre-loved marketplace. Sellers will be able to either cash out their earnings or swap them for a gift certificate to use on www.marimekko.com. The unique platform was created in partnership with Archive, a business that specializes in reselling technology.