Marimekko

Finnish for ‘Mary’s dress’; Marimekko was founded in 1951 by Armi Ratia. Going against the restrictive fashion of the period; it produced flowing dresses in abstract patterns and vibrant colours; which remain the house’s signature to this day. Over the last eight decades; Marimekko's artists have created some 3;500 designs; which have graced clothing; bags; accessories; ceramics; bedding; fabric; and more. Blending archival photographs and advertisements with modern campaign imagery as well as newly commissioned photography; Marimekko: The Art of Printmaking tells the story of the house’s most iconic designs. Four distinct sections guide the reader through the Marimekko philosophy and lifestyle; via its factory in Herttoniemi; where fabrics have been created from the very beginning; on to a rich sourcebook of pattern and finally to the brand’s ultra-sustainable; super-creative future. In ‘Art of Printmaking’; follow the making of the iconic Unikko (poppy) print; its multiple variants and colourways; and discover how an initial idea evolves from sketch to dress; through colour trials and printing table. Learn Marimekko’s unique ‘Language of Pattern’; through in-depth explorations of its iconic patterns; interspersed with the themes – floral; minimalistic; architectural – that make up Marimekko’s vivid lexicon. In ‘Making Marimekko’ and ‘Marimekko Next’; discover the past; present; and future of this creative powerhouse; in the voices of its own creative talents. Dive into the exhilarating tale of Marimekko’s success and an unstoppable whirlwind of breath-taking imagery.