Lamino

A mighty Finnish design era came out of the rubble of WWII and was granted decisive impetus by the International Triennial’s of 1951 and 1954 which clearly set up the concept of Finnish design. By officially blending design into production, materials from Marimekko (marimekko tyg) had achieved international consideration with their distinguishing of a select market receptive to the large Finnish design look.

Marimekko was founded by Armi and Viljo Ratia in 1951 and has since established a reputation for producing quality textiles for home furnishings and clothing. The Finland-based company actually began in 1949 by acquiring Printex Oy-an oilcloth factory in the suburbs of Helsinki. After a refit, the factory reintroduced the craft-based technique of hand silk-screen printing on cotton sheeting.

This approach, distinguished by its resultant irregularities and duplicated patterning, made every design appear hand-made. While production methods have long since been automated, the corporation still prints to a level of manually-produced quality. By utilizing its distinctive patterns and natural fibers, it underscored its commitment to Scandinavia’s love of nature.

Under Armi’s design direction; the company broke ranks with traditional Finnish textile designers, implementing an array of nonfigurative patterns, using the abstract graphic designs of artistic colleagues. The first collection of simply cut dresses was brought out in Helsinki in 1951 and originated as a promotional strategy for the firm’s printed cotton fabrics (marimekko tyger).

Simple wrap dresses and plain styles that buttoned down the bodice were included, putting the focus squarely on the cloth instead of on the apparel’s designs. This line was dubbed Marimekko (or Mary’s little pinafore dress). Since that time, the company has licensed various foreign firms from 1968 on in order to extend its merchandise to encompass tablecloths and dinner napkins, bed linens, serving ware, dish ware, glassware, furniture (möbler) and other home furnishings, area rugs, and wallpaper.

Marimeko made a name for itself in the United States in the 1990’s by licensing its products here. These products included fabric for interior design such as wall coverings (marimekko tapet) and rugs, as well as bed linens and much more. Their name is not as well known in America as many others are, but their designs are highly sought after. They have established a brand based on a simple classic look that is identifiable with the company.

By formally integrating design into manufacturing, textiles from Marimekko acquired international attention through their identification of an exclusive market responsive to the strong Finnish design aesthetic. The collection was so named by combining the old-fashioned Finnish girl’s name of Maria and the term mekko which described a tow shirt. Since then “Maria’s little dress” expanded into home furnishing textiles, with overseas licensing agreements for wall coverings, bedding, furniture (möbler) etc. The company made a name for itself in the United States in the 1990’s by licensing its products here. These products included fabric for interior design (heminredning) such as wall coverings and rugs, as well as bed linens and much more.