Marimekko Corporation, Press release 6 June 2011, 5.00 PM
NEW CONVERSE ♥ MARIMEKKO COLLECTION COMING SOON!
After the success of their first collaborative collection, launched in spring 2011, Converse and Marimekko have announced the continuation of their partnership. The Converse ♥ Marimekko collection sports new bold and vibrant patterns for Fall 2011! The collection features icons of American design, the Chuck Taylor All Star and the Jack Purcell shoes dressed in Marimekko’s signature prints for everyday life.
The Marimekko prints chosen for the fall 2011 women’s-specific collection were created by the great master designer Maija Isola and the young rising talent Maija Louekari. The collection features the most famous Marimekko print of all time, the Unikko (poppy) design, originally from 1964 by Maija Isola, to which her daughter Kristina Isola has created a new coloring and scale for the Converse shoes. This poppy print will adorn the shoes with bright pink or black flowers with metallic details. Maija Isola is also the designer behind the Paprika (sweet pepper) pattern, originally from 1965, appearing in the collection in a graphic black and white colorway. Entirely new Marimekko prints designed for Converse for the fall 2011 collection are the Kaleidoskooppi (kaleidoscope) and Poni (pony) patterns by Maija Louekari. Kaleidoskooppi, inspired by a kaleidoscope, and Poni, based on an image of round, plump hoof prints left by a small pony, represent the colorful Marimekko pattern world at its brightest.
“The collaboration between Marimekko and Converse feels so natural,” says Noora Niinikoski, Marimekko Design Manager and Fashion Designer. “Both companies have a strong, unique heritage and have always walked their own paths. There’s something very special about this kind of timeless lifestyle, and I think these shoes are a great example of that.”
Celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, Marimekko was born out of the desire to bring happiness to every day. Over the years, famous fashion and style icons have helped establish Marimekko prints to be some of the most recognizable and artistic designs worldwide. The contradictions in the Marimekko patterns create bridges between traditional and modern, urban and nature, much like many of the Converse silhouettes.
The Converse ♥ Marimekko collection for fall 2011 will be available globally at premium retail outlets and online at www.converse.com beginning in June 2011.
For further information and high-resolution images, please contact:
MARIMEKKO:
Tiina Alahuhta-Kasko, tel. +358 9 758 7328, tiina.alahuhta-kasko@marimekko.fi
Maarit Heikkilä, tel. +358 9 758 7321, maarit.heikkila@marimekko.fi
CONVERSE:
Lacy Pica, tel. +1 646-563-7830, lacy.pica@converse.com
Keith Gulla, tel. +1 646-563-7318, keith.gulla@converse.com
Marimekko is a Finnish textile and clothing design house renowned for its original prints and colors. The company designs and manufactures high-quality interior decoration items ranging from furnishing fabrics to tableware as well as clothing, bags and other accessories. When Marimekko was founded in 1951, its unparalleled printed fabrics gave it a strong and unique identity. Marimekko products are sold in approximately 40 countries. In 2010, Marimekko's net sales amounted to EUR 73.3 million; the number of Marimekko stores totalled 84 at the year end. The key markets in 2011 are North America, Northern Europe and the Asia-Pacific region. The Group employs around 390 people. The company's shares are quoted on NASDAQ OMX Helsinki Ltd. www.marimekko.com.
Converse Inc., based in N. Andover, Massachusetts, is a wholly owned subsidiary of NIKE, Inc. Established in 1908, the Converse brand has built a reputation as “America’s Original Sports Company”™ and has been associated with a rich heritage of legendary shoes such as the Chuck Taylor® All Star® shoe, the Jack Purcell® shoe and the One Star® shoe. Today, Converse offers a diverse portfolio including premium lifestyle men's and women's footwear and apparel. Converse product is sold globally by retailers in over 160 countries and through 58 company-owned retail locations in the U.S. For more information, visit Converse on the web at www.converse.com.