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EESTI ELU reedel, 7. oktoobril 2022 — Friday, October 7, 2022
In Memoriam: Markus Hogg With hundreds of thousands of followers and millions of likes on TikTok, plus thousands of followers on Ins tagram and YouTube – these figures only begin to express the extraordinary impact that Markus Hogg had on the world before he passed away from cancer on the 29th of September. Look anywhere he went or was involved and you’ll see that each connection he made was deeply caring and personal. Markus was born in Mississauga on the first of March, 2003. The little brother to his sister Tiffany and big brother to his sister Teija, Markus grew up in a warm, supportive home with his siblings and his parents, Heili and David. Being a family that is so actively involved in the Estonian community, Markus found the value of connecting with his roots early on, starting from his participation in lasteaed and hundud onward. He loved being a skaut and spending time outdoors at Kotkajärv. He was eager about going to Jõekääru and Seedrioru for camp, feeling immense regret that he wouldn’t be able to attend his final year at Jõekääru with friends due to his cancer. The Hogg family remains grateful to all of these Estonian organizations for offering to make accommoda tions for Markus to attend. A core focus of Markus’ life was sports; something he excelled at, something that he put a lot of work into, and something that was truly part of
his purpose in life. When it came to sports, his first love was football, which he started at the age of six with the Mississauga Warriors. Though he was a very gentle young man, once the ball was hiked, he was a fierce player, demolishing the offensive line with his strength and tackling the quarterback or ball carriers. But then he would reach out and help his opponents back up again and make sure they were okay. In the positions of defensive end and defensive back, he won Most Valuable Player every year. Later on, he moved into the position of tight end, and finally was named the starting quarterback for his grade 10 football team, a position he didn’t get the chance to fill with his cancer diagnosis. Being so tall (six feet five inches at the time of his passing) and athletic lended itself to results in other sports. These include soccer (in the position of goalie), track and field (especially the javelin event, for which he reached the finals of many track meets and at the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations Cham pion ships), and baseball (as a first baseman and pitcher). Being a versatile athlete, he even found himself facing up against adult volleyball players recreationally and hitting a grand slam while substituting for a player on his father’s softball team. A bright future as an elite athlete was certainly ahead of him. Though, for Markus, the present moment, the ability
Estonia’s firm ties to the Marimekko brand Vincent Teetsov Their saturated, rich printed patterns are widespread. A symbol of dazzling 60s style, especially the Unikko poppy flower pattern and the scratchy urban-floral crossover of the Pieni Siirtolapuu tarha pattern. They’re on dresses, tea towels, handbags, aprons, oven mitts, pillow cases, sheets of fabric for sewing hobbyists, and more. You can find Mari mekko’s products sold by so many retailers, from brick-and-
Photo: company.marimekko.com
mortar (including The Finnish Place in Thornhill) to online stores. You might see “Designed in Finland” and the names of specific designers for each of their patterns, but throughout, “Made in Estonia” is often found on product tags. Whereabouts in Estonia are these items made exactly? As of May 2020 there were 11 manufacturers and suppliers that made Marimekko products in Estonia. Most of these are around Tallinn, but there are suppliers in Rapla, Jõhvi, and
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things from his battle with cancer. When “friend therapy” wasn’t possible during the pandemic, he turned to social media. He started posting about his story and doing live videos on TikTok, speaking candidly about his experiences, sad and joyful alike, for the whole world to hear and see. Soon, his videos were going viral. With this visibility, he took the time to communicate one-one-one with his followers, including other people who were fighting cancer like him.
to keep playing, was what mattered most.
Shocking news arrived on October 12th, 2018, when Markus was diagnosed with spinal osteosarcoma – a form of bone cancer that primarily affects young people – connected to painful leg cramps that he was experiencing. From day one, his fight against cancer was bolstered by what his family calls “friend therapy.” The number of visitors for him at McMaster Children’s Hospital was so great that the family needed to set up a dedicated calendar for booking two hour time slots for everyone who
wanted to hang out with him. The people he loved were constantly by his side through chemotherapy; after he underwent major surgeries in 2019; when he was transferred to SickKids and Holland Bloor view Kids Rehabilitation Hos pital in Toronto. By Christmas of that year, he had beaten cancer. The result of the surgery to remove the cancer was extensive paralysis from the waist down. Amazingly, he eventually began to regain the ability to walk with the help of a cane. Tragically, cancer was discovered again, a further two times. This was devastating for Markus. But still, he was determined to fight. Even when he was sad. Even when COVID-19 restrictions precluded the possibility of seeing friends. Even in the process of going through nearly 30 surgeries including several that exceeded 25 hours in length. Despite this trauma, Markus made extraordinarily positive
Tartu as well. The labour of 309 Estonians is enlisted as part of Mari mekko’s broader manufacturing workforce, working within the product ranges of home textiles, accessories, bags, and garments. Marimekko is open about where each manufacturer or supplier is located, providing details on the number of employees they have, and how long they have had a working relationship with each location. Of these Estonian manufacturers, two started working with the Finnish design house in the 90s and two started working with them in the late 2010s. Most business relationships were started between 2000 and 2008. The largest of these is Gevatex OÜ, founded in 1996, with factories in Narva and in the Tallinn district of Rocca al Mare. Within Gevatex’s ranks, Marimekko reported that there were 90 employees, with specialized skills in manufacturing bags. Their relationship with Marimekko has endured for a long time, since 2002, with consistency in quality control and production speed. In fact, they state that they “can accept orders within 20,000 to 25,000 units per month.” This places Marimekko products side by side with the rest of Gevatex’s output, including military pack equipment and straps and
handles for luggage. Crucially, all manufacturers have to be in alignment with Marimekko’s commitment to sustainable manufacturing. In terms of materials, the Finnish company endeavours to work with cotton, wool, and silk predominantly. Among this, 88% of the cotton used is sourced as part of the Better Cotton Initiative, which seeks to support the livelihood of farmers and ecologically friendly practices of growing cotton. Innovation has come in the form of birch-cellulose fibre research and development with Aalto University in Espoo, Finland. Marimekko’s employees maintain contact with suppliers and conduct regular visits to factories, with a majority in Europe and several across Asia. The process begins with the printing of fabric in Helsinki. Then, it’s sent to Estonia where the cutting and sewing begins. Speaking of another facility, Sangar Ltd.’s factory in Tartu, Marimekko says, “It takes about 40 minutes to make one button shirt from cutting to shipment, involving up to 40 employees on the production line.” After they’re made, products are neatly prepared for packaging and shipping out. Though Marimekko has voiced the difficulty of factories
Hand-in-hand with his athletic and community pursuits, Markus was exceptionally charismatic, making friends with ease. To remain close, he would frequently travel hours on the bus to spend time with his beloved friends in downtown Toronto, especially his friends made in the Estonian community.
Markus always thought about others first, even when he had so much to worry about himself. And in turn, because they meant everything to him, his family, friends, and everyone who knew him became an infinite source of strength and hope. We can all look to his life as an example of a kind soul and of how one can change the world with everything in your heart. A memorial service will be held for Markus on Monday October 17th at 1:00 PM at Streetsville Trinity Anglican Church – located at 69 Queen Street South in Mississauga. More info will be shared via the family’s social media accounts. In lieu of flowers, Markus’ family asks all who can to donate in his name to the Estonian Scouts and Guides in Canada (https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_ id=CEACT8GY6AHEQ &fbclid=IwAR1JDaWISj_ B j h I L X b q r r 5 I B n RY M 4 w g c K Q X Y- 7 4 k M j t O D 6 h vQ7dhS2VKeQ). finding new employees, these workers often stay at their respective factories for many years. They’ve seen many collections come and go and have an excitement about the brand. Plus, they have actively shaped the process that goes into manufacturing, before products get to the stage of being modelled and shared with the voracious fashion world. From February 28th to April 28th, 2013, Eesti Tarbekunstija Disainimuuseum (the Esto nian Museum of Applied Art and Design) held an exhibit about Marimekko, curated by Harri Kivilinna and compiled by the Helsinki Design Museum. Through workshops, a kid’s camp, lectures, tours, and a collection of articles of clothing, homeware, and fabric samples, visitors retrospectively looked at the global reach of Marimekko’s designs. Since the company was created by Armi and Viljo Ratia in 1951, the company’s designs have been punchy and inventive. Marimekko took over the global market with their designers, who whipped up a hurricane of colour. But, by making these designs wearable and usable over nearly three de cades, Estonians have been key enablers for a globally-influential Nordic fashion brand.
