1. Jiho Yoo, Erika Bor, Daewoong Kim
Oulu University of Applied Sciences
Finnish Survival Course
2. I. Marimekko introducing
II. History of Marimekko
III. Commercial growth
IV. Marimekko products
V. Secret of Marimekko - video
VI. Literature
3. Marimekko Corporation is a leading Finnish
textile and clothing design company that was
established in 1951. The company designs,
manufactures and markets high-quality clothing,
interior decoration textiles, bags and other
accessories both in Finland and abroad.
4. Marimekko was founded in 1951 by Finnish
couple, Armi and Viljo Ratia. Marimekko,
translated literally means “Mary-dress.”
Vuokko Nurmesniemi designed
the simply-striped red and white
Jokapoika shirt in 1956.
Maija Isola designed the iconic
Unikko (poppy) print pattern in 1964.
5. At the beginning, Marimekko was a company made by
women for women. The company’s CEO, Armi Ratia,
was responsible for making the avant garde designs of
female artists like Maija Isola a part of the Marimekko
identity.
In the 1960s the patterns of Marimekko were famous in
Finland and abroad.
Today Marimekko is a leading textile company,
producing different kind of fabrics, accessories and
mugs for stores all over the world.
7. Marimekko was first introduced to the United
States by the architect Benjamin C. Thompson.
Jacqueline Kennedy, who bought 8 Marimekko
dresses which she was wearing throughout the
1960 US Presidential campaign.
In the mid-1960s, Crate and Barrel began a
relationship with Marimekko, which continues to
this day. Crate and Barrel also uses Marimekko
patterns in their stores.
8.
9. 1990s Marimekko was in a bad financial condition
(bankruptcy).
Later on the 1990s Marimekko achieved publicity in the
hit series 'Sex and the City'; the fictional main Carrie
Bradshaw was wearing a Marimekko bikini and a
Marimekko dress.
In 2007, Marimekko has opened its doors in the United
States and Canada as well.
Currently there are stores located in New York,
Cambridge, Massachusetts; Oxford, Mississippi; Miami,
Florida; and Vancouver, British Columbia. By September
2011 there were 84 stores across the world.
