MARIMEKKO BEGINS LICENSING COLLABORATION WITH ITALIAN SIRPI S.P.A. ON WALLPAPERS


Marimekko Corporation          PRESS RELEASE                                    
                               14 January 2009                                  

MARIMEKKO BEGINS LICENSING COLLABORATION WITH ITALIAN SIRPI S.P.A. ON WALLPAPERS

Marimekko Corporation and the Italian company Sirpi S.p.A. have entered into a  
licensing agreement on wallpaper production and distribution. The first         
Marimekko wallpaper collection will be launched at international trade fairs at 
the beginning of 2009. The Marimekko-patterned wallpapers will be available at  
specialty stores from April 2009. The co-operation agreement covers the EU      
countries, the USA, Russia, China and some Middle East countries, among others. 

The new Marimekko wallpaper collection represents the top of its field,         
combining Marimekko's strong design know-how and Sirpi's over 100 years of      
experience in high-quality wallpaper production. The first collection includes  
both well-known classics and more recent designs. In the future, the range of   
patterns will grow and diversify annually.                                      
                                                                                
”The wallpaper collection brings Marimekko designs into a new - but yet so      
natural - product category, which fits in perfectly with our comprehensive      
lifestyle thinking. Through the collaboration with Sirpi, we will reach entirely
new target groups in both contract and home furnishings markets. Within recent  
years, a great demand has arisen for Marimekko wallpapers as the interior       
decoration trends have moved towards the increased use of patterns and colour.  
Now, together with Sirpi, we can bring even more joy and beauty into people's   
everyday lives,” says Mika Ihamuotila, President and CEO of Marimekko.          

Further information:                                                            

Marimekko Corporation:                                                          
Päivi Lonka, Export Director, tel. +358 9 758 7430,                             
paivi.lonka@marimekko.fi                                                        
Tiina Alahuhta-Kasko, PR Manager, tel. +358 9 758 7328,                         
tiina.alahuhta-kasko@marimekko.fi                                               

SIRPI S.p.A:                                                                    
Nicoletta Murialdo, Public Relations, tel. +39 33 9531 8579,                    
nicoletta.murialdo@gmail.com                                                    


MARIMEKKO CORPORATION                                                           
Group Communications                                                            

Marja Korkeela                                                                  
Tel. +358 9 758 7238                                                            
Fax: +358 9 759 1676                                                            
Email: marja.korkeela@marimekko.fi                                              

Marimekko is a leading Finnish textile and clothing design company that was     
established in 1951. The company designs, manufactures and markets high-quality 
clothing, interior decoration textiles, bags and other accessories under the    
Marimekko brand, both in Finland and abroad. Marimekko products are also        
manufactured under license in various countries. In 2007, the company's net     
sales amounted to EUR 77.3 million. Exports and income from international       
operations accounted for 26.5% of the Group's net sales. The Group employs about
400 people. The company's share is quoted on the NASDAQ OMX Helsinki Ltd. For   
further information, visit www.marimekko.com                                    

Sirpi S.p.A., operating under its current name since 1970, is an Italian family 
enterprise with a mission to research and develop the field of interior         
decoration. With over a century of experience, the company is specialised in    
combining cultural influences and technological innovation in order to produce  
avant-garde fabrics and wallcoverings. In recent years, Sirpi has focused on the
development of both traditional and more modern printing techniques as well as  
on augmenting its production and distribution capacity. Through an extensive    
international distribution network, Sirpi can offer a wide variety of products  
to global markets. The renowned Italian wallpaper brand and lifestyle store     
Jannelli & Volpi is also part of Sirpi S.p.A. For further information, visit    
www.sirpi-wallcoverings.it

Attachments

marimekko_press release_14012009.pdf