Marimekko Classics: Print Stories
Unikko
Design Maija Isola 1964
Unikko (poppy) was born in 1964 after Armi Ratia, Marimekko's founder, had announced that Marimekko would never print a flower pattern. Maija Isola refused to obey Armi's orders and - in protest – created an entire series of gorgeous floral prints. One of them was Unikko which has become a story of creativity, strength, courage and faith in oneself.
Kivet
Design Maija Isola 1956
The Kivet (stones) pattern builds on circles cut with scissors. The pattern was most likely inspired by the rough-edged stones that were manually cleared from the designer's atelier home's grounds.
Tasaraita
Design Annika Rimala 1968
When jeans started to become increasingly popular among both women and men, Annika Rimala wanted to design a collection of cotton jersey clothes to go with jeans. For all denim lovers, regardless of age, size or gender. That's how Marimekko's first cotton jersey collection was born. Evenly striped, expressing equality.
Piccolo
Design Vuokko Eskolin-Nurmesniemi 1953
In 1953, the very year she joined Marimekko, Vuokko Eskolin-Nurmesniemi created Piccolo, a striped fabric pattern painted with vivid brushstrokes. Three years later, the Jokapoika (every boy) shirt made from the fabric appeared in shops and the streets – for good, it seems.