Marimekko facts for kids
Logo since 1954
|
|
|
Native name
|
Marimekko Oyj
|
|---|---|
| Public (Julkinen osakeyhtiö) | |
| Traded as | |
| ISIN | ISIN: [https://isin.toolforge.org/?language=en&isin=FI0009007660 FI0009007660] |
| Industry | Textiles Clothing Home furnishings Retail |
| Founded | 25 May 1951 in Helsinki, Finland |
| Founders | Viljo Ratia Armi Ratia Riitta Immonen |
| Headquarters |
Helsinki
,
Finland
|
|
Number of locations
|
153 stores (2022) |
|
Area served
|
Worldwide |
|
Key people
|
Tiina Alahuhta-Kasko (CEO) Mika Ihamuotila (Chairman) Maija Isola (Designer) Vuokko Nurmesniemi (Designer) |
| Revenue |  €166.5 million (2022) |
|
Operating income
|
 €30.4 million (2022) |
| €22.7 million (2022) |
|
|
Number of employees
|
459 (31 December 2022) |
Marimekko is a Finnish company that makes textiles, clothes, and home items. It was started in Helsinki, Finland, in 1951 by Viljo and Armi Ratia.
Marimekko became very important in fashion during the 1960s. It is famous for its bright, colorful fabrics and simple designs. These designs are used for women's clothing and things for the home.
Two designers, Vuokko Nurmesniemi and Maija Isola, helped make Marimekko famous. Nurmesniemi created bold stripes. Isola designed large, simple flower prints, like the well-known Unikko (poppy) pattern. They made hundreds of unique designs that helped Marimekko become known around the world.
Contents
What Does the Name Marimekko Mean?
The company's co-founder, Armi Ratia, first thought of using her own name, Armi. But that name was already taken by another company.
Her middle name was Maria, which was shortened to Mari. Her husband, Viljo, then thought of different names for women's clothing. In her hometown, Armi heard people talking about dresses, which in Finnish is mekko. So, she combined "Mari" and "mekko" to create the name Marimekko.
Marimekko's Story
How Marimekko Started
Marimekko was founded in 1951 by Viljo and Armi Ratia. Viljo had an oil-cloth factory that wasn't doing well. They decided to change it into a clothing factory instead.
Armi asked some of her artist friends to create designs for fabrics. To show how these fabrics could be used, the company started making and selling simple dresses. These dresses were made from their own unique fabrics.
In 1957, a famous Finnish designer named Timo Sarpaneva invited Marimekko to a fashion show in Milan, Italy. This was an early sign that Marimekko was becoming important in the world of design. Even though the show was canceled, their clothes were still displayed in a fancy department store by Giorgio Armani.
New and Exciting Designs
Two designers were very important in shaping Marimekko's style. These were Vuokko Nurmesniemi in the 1950s and Maija Isola in the 1960s.
Nurmesniemi designed the simple red and white striped Jokapoika shirt in 1956. Isola created the famous Unikko (poppy) print pattern in 1964. Marimekko's bold fabrics and bright, simple designs had a big impact on fashion in the late 20th century. Many of these early designs, including Isola's Unikko, are still made today.
Marimekko Grows Around the World
Marimekko became popular in America in the 1960s. An architect named Benjamin C. Thompson brought their designs to his stores.
They became even more famous when Jacqueline Kennedy, who would become the First Lady, bought eight Marimekko dresses. She wore these dresses during the 1960 United States presidential campaign.
By 1965, Marimekko had over 400 employees. The company was involved in many areas of design, from fabrics to toys and even dinnerware. They even furnished entire small houses.
In 1985, the company was sold to Amer-yhtymä. In the early 1990s, Marimekko faced financial problems and was almost bankrupt. However, Kirsti Paakkanen bought the company from Amer. She brought in new business ideas and helped Marimekko become popular again.
Later in the 1990s, Marimekko gained more attention from the TV show Sex and the City. A character on the show, Carrie Bradshaw, wore a Marimekko bikini and later a Marimekko dress. The show also featured tablecloths with Marimekko prints.
By 2005, Marimekko's sales had grown four times since Paakkanen bought it. Its profit had increased 200 times. Paakkanen remained the CEO and owned a large part of the company. In 2007, she announced she would slowly transfer her ownership to Mika Ihamuotila. By 2011, Marimekko had 84 stores worldwide.
Today, Marimekko products are made in countries like China, India, Thailand, Portugal, and Lithuania. The fabrics are printed at Marimekko's own factory in Helsinki, Finland.
In 2021, the company celebrated its 70th anniversary. They published a book called Marimekko: The Art of Printmaking.
Marimekko's Logo
The Marimekko logo has been used since 1954. Armi Ratia wanted the logo to be simple and timeless. A graphic designer named Helge Mether-Borgström created the logo. He used changed versions of letters from a classic Olivetti typewriter.
Images for kids
-
Marimekko dresses from the 1960s, showing Maija Isola's prints.
-
Marianne Aav's book about Marimekko, featuring Isola's 1964 Unikko (poppy) print.
-
A model wearing a Marimekko dress with the Unikko (Poppy) print from 2015.
-
A Marimekko store in Kamppi, Helsinki.
