Marimekko Suspends Orders following Child Labour Claims
Image: Touko Yrttimaa / YLE
Finnish clothing and textile design icon Marimekko has suspended all orders from an Estonian factory suspected of using cotton picked by child labour in its textile production. "We were immediately in contact with the factory in question and said we will not order anything from them until this matter is cleared up. They are in the process of determining where the cotton they use comes from," said Helinä Uotila, production manager at Marimekko. She admitted that Marimekko is not always aware of where its material comes from. "Generally speaking, we know where the cotton comes from, at least from our main suppliers. It is also a question of quality," Uotila said. On Sunday, the Swedish television channel SVT reported that Swedish clothing chain H&M uses cotton picked by Uzbek children in its garments. The company has strongly spoken out against the use of child labour. Swedish textile company Borås Wäfveri also uses Uzbek cotton, but has said it will no longer import it. The company's managing director Sven-Olof Kulldorff said the Estonian factory also manufactures products for Marimekko. SVT, YLE H&M Cotton Picked by Child Labour