Marimekko names Maaranen new fashion product design head

By

Sandra Halliday

Published
Dec 8, 2017

January will see the arrival of Marimekko’s new RTW design head after Satu Maaranen was this week named to the top fashion-related creative role at the Finnish textiles, fashion and accessories firm. Maaranen will join as head designer of ready-to-wear, bags and accessories on January 8.

The move comes as the firm tweaks its design strategy after having earlier been looking for an overall design chief.

Marimekko said as far back as February this year that its was seeking a new team leader for its complete design and product development but it has now decided to “transform its operating model in respect of design management.”

In the future, the direction and visual aspects of design for Marimekko's fashion ops will be the responsibility of Maaranen and she will work closely with Minna Kemell-Kutvonen who runs print design and the home collection.

Both will report to the firm’s president and CEO Tiina Alahuhta-Kasko who said: "We wanted to find the most suitable approach to design management for us. Marimekko is known as one of the world's first lifestyle brands, and our design has been based from the start on the idea of a community in which designers from different backgrounds create something new together. We believe this is still unique in our field. 

“Satu Maaranen's highly international profile and experience, and her fresh and modern views on the direction of [our] ready-to-wear, bag and accessory design were decisive factors in her selection.”

A graduate of Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture, she is also an international award-winning designer having taken 2013’s Grand Prix at the Hyères Fashion Festival in France. She has also been honoured at the Finnish Elle Style Awards and at Copenhagen Fashion Week. 

Her brand work has included stints at France’s Petit Bateau as well as at the Chinese label Exception de Mixmind. Importantly too, she has designed clothes and prints for Marimekko since 2010 and is one of the founders of Pre Helsinki, an organisation focusing on the internationalisation of Finnish fashion designers.