After World War II there was a strong Finnish design movement that developed and was given greater weight by the International Triennials in 1951 and 1954 as they defined the concept of ‘Finnish design’. Through the integration of design into the manufacturing, Marimekko’s textiles gained attention throughout the world by identifying an exclusive market response the aesthetic that was very strong in Finnish design.
Armi and Vilji Ratia were the founders of Marrimekko way back in 1951. Since that time, the corporation has become famous for manufacturing superior fabrics (marimekko tyg) both for covering furniture (mobler) and for use in making apparel. The true beginning of the Finnish firm, however, dates back to 1949, when it acquired the Printex-Oy plant located just outside Helsinki. Once it was renovated to suit the company’s purposes, it brought back the method of manually silk-screening on cotton sheeting.
The procedure, which was known bya nonuniform outcome and recap lines, elicit a human feel to every design. Though building techniques were mechanized years ago, the business stays building hand-crafted value in its printing. Its work of attractive designs and regular fibers further upheld its liability to the Scandinavian empathy 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 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 (designmöbler).
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 interior design (heminredning) 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 Merimekko 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. Since then the company 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, ceramics, glassware, and rugs.
Tags: finsk design, maija isola, Marimekko, marimekko textil, möbler
