Marimekko

The 1960s

In the 1960s, Marimekko’s business operations rapidly expanded and became international. The product range widened, and Marimekko became a globally recognised phenomenon and lifestyle. Towards the end of the decade, the company ran into financial difficulties, which were resolved through extensive restructuring carried out in 1968–1971.

1960 The internationalisation of Marimekko was fanned by Jacqueline Kennedy, who bought seven Marimekko cotton frocks on a single occasion. The US presidential campaign was at its most heated at the time, and Mrs Kennedy’s fashion shopping also became headlines, thus making Marimekko immediately known throughout the United States on the pages of some 400 newspapers and magazines.

1960 Marimekko opened its first company-owned retail shop abroad in Stockholm.

1960 Annika Rimala began her work as a fashion designer at Marimekko. Her modern and original garments were continuously featured on the covers and pages of leading fashion magazines all over the world. In 1968, Rimala designed Marimekko’s first jersey garments, the Tasaraita collection, which is still being made. Annika Rimala designed clothing for Marimekko until 1982.

1960 Liisa Suvanto introduced a new look in Marimekko fashions with her sculptural garments made of hand-knitted woollen fabrics. Suvanto worked at Marimekko until 1975 and, in the 1970s, she also designed clothes made of printed cotton fabrics. Many of the prints were created by the Japanese designer Katsuji Wakisaka, who designed fashion and interior fabrics at Marimekko in 1968–1976 and in 2001.

1964 Kristina Isola began to work as a designer together with her mother Maija Isola. She still designs printed fabrics and other interior decoration products for Marimekko, while also being responsible for the new colour schemes and adaptations of Maija Isola’s fabric designs for different uses.

1968 Marimekko signed its first licensing agreement in Finland.

1969 Pentti Rinta joined Marimekko as a fashion designer. Working with the company until 1987, he designed everyday shirt-dresses with small, subdued prints, solid-coloured unisex garments, as well as impressive and dramatic clothes in bold colours and patterns. In 1972, Rinta designed Marimekko’s first men’s suit (Kuski), which became a classic.