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Journal
Everything to know about the Tasaraita even stripes
A stripy shirt is a piece that most of us probably have in our closets. Its allure lies in its versatility. First introduced in 1858 as the uniform for the French navy, and later embraced by the likes of Coco Chanel and Pablo Picasso, the simple and chic long-sleeve striped shirt combines not only with your jeans or wide-leg trousers but also with your flowing skirts. Marimekko’s take on even stripes is called Tasaraita.
Marimekko entered the stripy scene in 1968, a time of emerging new cultural forms, modern bohemianism and alternative lifestyles re-examining prevailing values. Aligned with the liberated spirit of the late 1960s, the Tasaraita (even stripe) shirt by Annika Rimala came with an open-minded and inclusive message of equality and acceptance. From the beginning, the Tasaraita shirts were designed to be gender-fluid. Yet despite its democratic character, a stripy shirt does have a connotation of coming across as bold and daring – the reason it has kept on mesmerizing artistic minds and modern-day fashionistas alike, decade after decade.
Annika Rimala, a charismatic creative
Clothing and print designer Annika Rimala (1936–2014) achieved international distinction for her creative work as one of the chief fashion designers at Marimekko from 1960 to 1982. Her creations helped to put Marimekko on the map as a fashion house and during the 1960s and the 1970s, her modern, eccentric pieces were repeatedly featured in international fashion magazines, making the cover of Elle, Harper’s Bazaar, and Vogue. In 1967, she was selected as one of the world’s ten most influential fashion designers.
Annika found inspiration for her work from observing everyday street life and contemporary events around her. Alongside rhythmic prints and exuberant use of color, her work was also characterized by timelessness, practicality, and humor. Youth culture and art movements figured in her bold patterns, but toward the end of the 1960s, her work became increasingly universal in form and function. With Annika, Marimekko entered the era of basic casual wear and cotton jersey.
Practically everybody was now wearing denim, and Annika wanted to design a collection of cotton jersey clothes to go with blue jeans and suitable for everyone irrespective of age, size, or gender. An overnight hit despite Marimekko founder Armi Ratia’s doubts, the 1968 Tasaraita collection featured T-shirts, nightgowns, and underwear. Marimekko’s selection of stripy essentials has since evolved to cover a series of shirts, dresses, and pants, as well as homeware.
When the ordinary becomes extraordinary
In 2022, many of us are facing new kinds of uncertainty in our lives, and our longing for simplicity and security is tangible. We need purposeful and simple things in our lives, things that make us feel at ease. The stripy Tasaraita shirt is the perfect example of a timeless staple that brings a spark of joy into everyday life. This spring, this iconic design is combined with our symbol of creativity, Unikko (poppy). The update will make Tasaraita an even more recognizable Marimekko classic. Fuel your inspiration with our friends’ styling Marimekko’s take on this extraordinary ordinary item.
Changing the world with Pride
The Marimekko spirit has always been grounded on advancing fairness and inclusivity. Still today, Tasaraita is Marimekko’s symbol of equality, and we keep supporting these important values with a continuing collaboration with the rainbow-colored human rights and cultural event Pride.
