Finnish lifestyle design brand Marimekko is set to open a new flagship store in Hong Kong's Causeway Bay on October 16, 2025, marking a significant expansion of its retail presence in Asia. The store represents a relocation and expansion of Marimekko's original Hong Kong outlet, which first opened in 2012 on the same street. The move underscores Hong Kong's continued importance as a hub for premium fashion and lifestyle brands, catering to both local consumers and international tourists.

The new flagship store will be operated by Sidefame Ltd., Marimekko's long-standing franchise partner in the Hong Kong and China markets since 2011. The retail space features an exterior showcasing Marimekko's iconic Unikko print, while the interior design draws inspiration from the company's textile printing factory in Helsinki, Finland. The store will offer a curated selection of Marimekko's lifestyle products, including fashion items, bags, accessories, and home goods featuring the brand's distinctive printed fabrics.

Natacha Defrance, Senior Vice President of Sales for the East Region at Marimekko, emphasized the importance of physical retail in an increasingly digital world. "We believe that even in a digitalized world, creative and emotionally engaging physical retail concepts play an important role as the hearts of brand culture, fueling omnichannel growth," Defrance stated. The new flagship follows Marimekko's most updated store concept and aims to serve as a window into the brand's optimistic lifestyle philosophy and art of printmaking.

The Hong Kong expansion aligns with Marimekko's 2023-2027 growth strategy, which identifies Asia as a key international growth market. The Finnish company, founded in 1951, currently operates nearly 20 stores in China and approximately 170 stores worldwide, serving customers in 39 countries through both physical and online channels. Marimekko reported net sales of 183 million euros in 2024, with Hong Kong and mainland China representing strategic priorities for continued expansion.

Finnair is gradually restoring its Airbus A321 fleet to service after an uncertified cleaning procedure forced the grounding of eight aircraft. The airline confirmed that seat covers were washed with water, a method not properly certified to ensure fire protection standards were maintained. This safety concern prompted the removal of the affected aircraft from service, leading to operational disruptions across Finnair's European network.

The situation began improving over the weekend as Finnair started installing new seat covers on the grounded aircraft. The first A321 returned to service on Sunday, operating a flight from Helsinki to Rhodes. However, seven aircraft remain out of service with no confirmed timeline for their full return. The A321s typically seat approximately 200 passengers and are crucial for Finnair's European route operations.

The grounding has resulted in significant passenger disruptions, with Finnair implementing extensive rebooking procedures. On Sunday alone, approximately 460 passengers were moved to different flights due to aircraft downgrades. The airline has prioritized high-frequency routes such as Helsinki-Stockholm and Helsinki-London, ensuring alternative options are available. In some cases, Finnair has used smaller replacement aircraft and offered incentives for volunteers to switch flights.

To manage the capacity shortfall, Finnair has wet-leased two aircraft with crews from Danish carrier DAT since Wednesday. While flight cancellations have decreased to single digits in recent days, with some days passing without any cancellations, the airline acknowledges that irregularities may continue through the coming week. Finnair is providing accommodation and compensation to affected passengers in accordance with EU air passenger rights regulations as it works to fully resolve the operational challenges.