Marimekko is a Finnish home furnishings, textiles, and fashion company based in Helsinki. It made important contributions to fashion in the 1960s. It is particularly noted for its brightly colored printed fabrics and simple styles, used both in women's garments and in home furnishings.
Two designers in particular, Vuokko Nurmesniemi, with bold stripes, and Maija Isola, with large simple flowered prints such as the Unikko poppy, created hundreds of distinctive patterns and helped to make Marimekko a household name across the world.
The co-founder, Armi Ratia (1912–1979), considered Armi as the company's name, but it was already registered. Her middle name was Maria, shortened to Mari; her husband Viljo considered different names for women's clothing. In her home town of Koivisto, Armi heard people talking about dresses (Finnish: mekko), and so she came to the name Marimekko.
Marimekko was founded in 1951 by Viljo and Armi Ratia, after the Viljo's oil-cloth factory project failed and was converted to a garment plant. Armi asked some artist friends to apply their graphic designs to textiles. To show how the fabric could be used, the company then designed and sold a line of simple dresses using their fabric. When Finland's leading industrial designer Timo Sarpaneva invited the company to present a fashion show (albeit canceled at short notice) at the 1957 Triennale in Milan, this was an early recognition of fashion as an industrial art and of Marimekko's key role in the process. The garments were eventually showcased in the nearby Rinascente upscale department store by display manager Giorgio Armani.
Two pioneering designers set the tone for Marimekko: Vuokko Nurmesniemi in the 1950s and Maija Isola in the 1960s. Nurmesniemi designed the simply striped red and white Jokapoika shirt in 1956. Isola designed the iconic Unikko (poppy) print pattern in 1964. Marimekko's bold fabrics and bright, simple design strongly influenced late 20th-century taste.
Marimekko spread to America in the 1960s. It was introduced to the United States by the architect Benjamin C. Thompson, who featured them in his Design Research stores. They were made famous in the United States by Jacqueline Kennedy, who bought eight Marimekko dresses which she wore throughout the 1960 United States presidential campaign.
By 1965, the company employed over 400 staff, and the company was in every aspect of fine design, from fabrics to toys and dinnerware. The firm even completely equipped small houses with furnishings. In 1985, the company was sold to Amer-yhtymä. In the early 1990s, Marimekko was in a bad financial condition and close to bankruptcy. It was bought from Amer by Kirsti Paakkanen, who introduced new business methods in the company and helped to revive its popularity.
Later in the 1990s Marimekko achieved publicity in the hit TV series Sex and the City. The fictional main character of the series, sex-and-relationship columnist Carrie Bradshaw, wore a Marimekko bikini on season 2 and then a Marimekko dress. In season 5 the series introduced tablecloths with Marimekko prints.
In 2005, Marimekko's revenue had quadrupled since Paakkanen's purchase, and its net income had grown 200-fold. Paakkanen remained CEO of Marimekko and owned 20% of the company via her business Workidea. In 2007, Paakkanen announced she would gradually hand over her ownership to Mika Ihamuotila as CEO and biggest owner of the company. By 2011 there were 84 stores across the world. Marimekko products are (2017) made in China, India, Thailand and other countries. Fabrics are still printed in Marimekko's textile factory in Finland.
The logo of Marimekko has been in use since 1954. Armi Ratia wanted the logo to be simple and timeless. Graphic designer Helge Mether-Borgström used modified versions of classic Olivetti typewriter letters to create the logo.
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Founder, Armi Ratia, 1959
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A Marimekko store in Kamppi, Helsinki
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1981, Color chart for the Vidakko (Jungle) Pattern by Pentti Rinta
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1951, It all started with a dress
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1964, Dresses
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Isot Kivet cotton fabric
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Juhannustaika cotton fabric
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Kaivo cotton fabric
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Kompotti cotton fabric
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Lokki cotton fabric
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Unikko heavyweight cotton fabric
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Joukkue Pionipensas dress
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Kaoliini Keidas dress
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Kurkistus dress
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Leiri Unikko dress
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Unelma Pieni Unikko dress
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Solveig ankle boots
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Pamba Unikko scarf
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Salina Jacquard Unikko scarf
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Liia Pieni Unikko bag
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Kortti Kukkaro Välly
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Roosa Mini Unikko bag
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Kerttu Wx Pieni Unikko bag
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Ketunmarja bag
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Notko Logo bag
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Peruskassi Pieni Unikko bag
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Enni Pieni Unikko backpack
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Stick Unikko umbrella
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Oiva-Ketunmarja bowl
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Pieni Letto duvet cover
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