Marimekko: The Height Of Finnish Textile Design
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 (marimekko tyg) 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 repeats lines, and 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 the design direction of Armi, the company broke ranks with conventional Finnish textile designers and implemented a range of nonfigurative patterns, using abstract graphic designs of art colleagues. The first collection of simply cut dresses, introduced in 1951 in Helsinki, originated as a promotional vehicle for the company’s printed cotton fabrics (marimekko tyger).
Wraparound and front-button garments were included, thus accentuating textiles instead of styling. This collection was known as Merimekko, 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 (mobler), kitchen ware, glassware, ceramics, and rugs.
Marrimekko 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 such as wall coverings (marimekko tapet) 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.
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 “Finnish design.” By formally integrating design into manufacturing, textiles from Marimeko acquired international attention through their identification of an exclusive market responsive to the strong Finnish design aesthetic. 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 (mobler), ceramics, glassware (marimekko glas), and rugs. These products included fabric for interior design (inredning).
Tags: finsk design, maija isola, Marimekko, marimekko textil, möbler
April 29th, 2009 at 12:50 am
[...] 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, [...]
April 29th, 2009 at 12:59 am
[...] set up the concept of Finnish design. By officially blending design into production, materials from Marimekko (marimekko tyg) had achieved international consideration with their distinguishing of a select [...]