Marimekko - Highest Quality Textiles
A mighty Finnish design era came out of the rubble of WWII and was granted decisive impetus by the International Triennial's of 1951 and 1954 which clearly set up the concept of Finnish design. By officially blending design into production, materials from Marimekko had achieved international consideration with their distinguishing of a select market receptive to the large Finnish design look.
Marimekko was founded in 1951 by Armi and Viljo Ratia and has built a reputation since then for producing high quality textiles for clothes and home furnishings. This Finland-based firm actually started in 1949, acquiring the Printex-Oy--an oilcloth factory located in Helsinki's suburbs. After refitting, this factory reintroduced the craft-based method of hand silk-screen printing on cotton sheeting.
The methods, recognized by resulting irregularities and repeat lines, brought a very human feel to every design. Though production methods were mechanized a long while ago, the company still maintains hand-crafted quality in printing. Its use of decorative designs and natural fibers only strengthened its commitment to the Scandinavians' affinity for nature.
Under Armi's design direction, the company broke ranks with traditional Finnish textile designers, implementing an array of nonfigurative patterns, using the abstract graphic designs of artistic colleagues. The first collection of simply cut dresses was brought out in Helsinki in 1951 and originated as a promotional strategy for the firm's printed cotton fabrics.
Wraparound and front-button garments were included, thus accentuating textiles instead of styling. This collection was known as Marimekko, blending the old-fashioned Finnish girl name Maria and the word mekko, describing a tow shirt, open in the back and then worn as if it were a pinafore. Since that time, "Maria's little dress" expanded into home furnishing textiles, with some international licensing agreements begun in 1968 for bedding, wall covering, decorative fabric, table linens, paper products, furniture (möbler), kitchen ware, glassware, ceramics, and rugs.
By the close of the 1900s, Marimekko had already succeeded in re-establishing itself in the United States. It offered American purchasers popular textiles and interior design (inredning) merchandise (for interiors and exteriors alike), including wallpaper, bedding, area rugs and lots more via a network of licensed firms. While it may not be quite as famous as numerous other fabric companies, its striking and distinctive patterns and characteristic choices of vivid colors are easily recognized and give it a unique identity which is as alive today as it ever was.
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. Wraparound and front-buttoned garments were included, accentuating the textiles rather than the styling of the garments. "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, kitchenware, furniture (möbler), ceramics, glassware, rugs, and wall coverings. These products included fabric for interior design (inredning) such as wall coverings and rugs, as well as bed linens and much more.
Published December 2nd, 2008
Filed in Home