The retrenchment talks will affect employees in all business units with the exception of staff at the company’s textile printing operations in Helsinki. At the same time, Marimekko will restructure its operations in the United States.
Marimekko estimated that the measures – which target annual savings of 2.5 million euros -- would reduce its workforce in Finland and the US by a maximum of 65.
“We are reorganising our operations to strengthen our long term business competitiveness, and we’re aiming for greater efficiency in our organisational structure. Unfortunately this will mean the start of co-determination negotiations in Finland and restructuring in the United States,” Marimekko chief executive Mika Ihamuotila said in a statement.
The company will be looking to cut at most 55 jobs in Finland, while some personnel in Marimekko sales outlets will transition to part-time contracts or will work reduced hours. Additionally some of the payroll cuts will be implemented via retirements or other special arrangements.
At the end of 2013, Marimekko employed 502 staffers, 378 of whom worked in Finland.
New international design talent required
At the same time however, Marimekko will launch a global recruitment drive for new artistic directors. The goal will be to strengthen the international competitiveness of the company’s design leadership.
“We also want to create even more interesting products for our international clients. So we want to bolster our design unit by finding new art directors with international experience,” Ihamuotila explained.
Current artistic director Minna Kemell-Kutvonen will remain with the company and will later assume a management role in design matters.