Marimekko: One Of the Leading Textile Companies
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 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.
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.
Under the design leadership of Armi, the company pulled away from traditional Finnish textile designers and began to use a variety of nonfigurative patterns, utilizing abstract graphic designs of their artist colleagues. The original assemblage of simply cut dresses, put out in 1951 in Helsinki began as a promotional conveyance for their printed cotton fabrics.
Wraparound and front buttoning articles of clothing were incorporated, bringing focus to the fabric instead of the styling of the garments. This collection was known as Marimekko, a combination of the old Finnish girl’s name of Maria along with the term mekko, which is a tow shirt, open in the back and worn like a pinafore or apron. Since that time, “Maria’s little dress” has grown to encompass items from home furnishing textiles to paper products, ceramics, rugs, wall coverings and even furniture (möbler).
By the end of the 20th century, Marimekko had engineered a major comeback in the U.S., with fabric and interior design (inredning) (for both indoor and outdoor use), wall coverings, bed linens, rugs and much more available to American buyers through a series of licenses. Though not as well known in America as many other textiles firms, Marimekko’s bold, simple, classic print designs and characteristic use of color have established a permanently recognizable and highly individualistic identity that remains to this day.
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.
- John Melaugh
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