Marimekko Singapore has opened its first store – in the Capitol Piazza shopping centre.

The Finnish brand says this and the new Thailand store which opened in Bangkok in April, demonstrate its continuing focus on Asian expansion.

The company says it will open more retailer-owned stores in Singapore and the rest of Southeast Asia over the next few years.

“In our expansion, we have focused first and foremost on regions with high growth potential,” says Päivi Lonka, CSO.

“The Asia-Pacific region is our second-largest market area, and we already have a fairly strong foothold in East Asia. Thus, expanding into Southeast Asia felt like a natural move.

“Singapore is a modern metropolis and very attractive to us, as it is considered one of the region’s top business hubs and shopping destinations.”

In April, Thailand’s first Marimekko store opened in Bangkok.

“The city is in an interesting stage of development from the retail viewpoint. It is becoming an increasingly important international metropolis, where a number of high-class malls have been opened recently,” said Lonka.

Marimekko products are sold in 140 stores in about 40 countries and last year, brand sales totalled euro 187 million, with company stores accounting for euro 94 million of that.