Marimekko: The History Of An Innovative Finnish Company

2008-12-20 Word Count: 421 Category: Interior Design

A strong Finnish design movement emerged after World War II and was given decisive impetus by the International Triennial's of 1951 and 1954 which defined the concept of "Finish design." By formally integrating design into manufacturing, textiles from Marimekko acquired international attention through their identification of an exclusive market responsive to the strong Finnish design aesthetic.
Armi and Vilji Ratia were the founders of Marimekko way back in 1951. Since that time, the corporation has become famous for manufacturing superior fabrics both for covering furniture (möbler) and for use in making apparel. The true beginning of the Finnish firm, however, dates back to 1949, when it acquired the Printex-Oy plant located just outside Helsinki. Once it was renovated to suit the company's purposes, it brought back the method of manually silk-screening on cotton sheeting.
The technique, which was recognized by resulting irregularities and repeat lines, evoked a human feel to each design. Although production techniques were mechanized long ago, the company maintains hand-crafted quality in its printing. Its use of decorative designs and natural fibers strengthened its commitment to the Scandinavian affinity to nature.
With Armi as its design director, the firm moved away from the standard approach of the other fabric designers in Finland at that time, utilizing an assortment of patterns which incorporated the abstract graphics of various artists rather than realistic images. Their original collection of basic women's dresses, which debuted in the city of Helsinki back in 1951, was a means of showcasing the corporation's printed cottons.
Simple wrap dresses and plain styles that buttoned down the bodice were included, putting the focus squarely on the cloth instead of on the apparel's designs. This line was dubbed Marimekko (or Mary's little pinafore dress). Since that time, the company has licensed various foreign firms from 1968 on in order to extend its merchandise to encompass tablecloths and dinner napkins, bed linens, serving ware, dish ware, glassware, furniture (möbler) and other home furnishings, area rugs, and wallpaper.
Near the end of the 20th century, Marimekko had brought about a huge comeback in the United States, with fabric and interior design (inredning) for indoor and outdoor use, wall coverings, bedding and many more products for American purchasers via a series of licenses. While not as popular as some other textile companies in America, Marimekko's daring yet basic print designs and distinctive use of color have made these designs well known and highly identifiable , even now.

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By formally integrating design into manufacturing, textiles from marimekko (www.nordicmobler.com/marimekko/) acquired international attention through their identification of an exclusive market responsive to the strong Finnish design aesthetic. The collection was so named by combining the old-fashioned Finnish girl's name of Maria and the term mekko which described a tow shirt.