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.
Marimekko was founded by Armi and Viljo Ratia in 1951 and has since established a reputation for producing quality textiles for home furnishings and clothing. The Finland-based company actually began in 1949 by acquiring Printex Oy-an oilcloth factory in the suburbs of Helsinki. After a refit, the factory reintroduced the craft-based technique of hand silk-screen printing on cotton sheeting.
This approach, distinguished by its resultant irregularities and duplicated patterning, made every design appear hand-made. While production methods have long since been automated, the corporation still prints to a level of manually-produced quality. By utilizing its distinctive patterns and natural fibers, it underscored its commitment to Scandinavia’s love of 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.
Wraparound and front-buttoned garments were included, accentuating the textiles rather than the styling of the garments. The collection was called Marimekko, combining the old-fashioned Finnish girl’s name of Maria and the term mekko which described a tow shirt, open at the back and worn like a pinafore. Since then “Maria’s little dress” expanded into home furnishing textiles, with overseas licensing agreements (initiated in 1968) for wall coverings, bedding, decorative fabrics, paper products, table linens, kitchen ware, furniture (möbler), ceramics, glassware, rugs, and wall coverings.
Marimekko made a name for itself in the United States in the 1990’s by licensing its products here. These products included fabric for interior design (inredning) such as wall coverings and rugs, as well as bed linens and much more. Their name is not as well known in America as many others are, but their designs are highly sought after. They have established a brand based on a simple classic look that is identifiable with the company.
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. 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. Since then “Maria’s little dress” expanded into home furnishing textiles, with overseas licensing agreements for wall coverings, bedding, furniture (möbler) etc. The company made a name for itself in the United States in the 1990’s by licensing its products here. These products included fabric for interior design (heminredning) such as wall coverings and rugs, as well as bed linens and much more.
- John Melaugh