"It's always much nicer to be together, in good company. Together you can handle the biggest challenges. Doing things together cultivates an atmosphere of openness and trust, which is a prerequisite to boldness and creativity."
So says Marimekko. And we couldn't agree more.
[ #DwellConsciously with reusable Marimekko Bag :: SHOP IT ]
Marimekko is a Finnish design house celebrated worldwide for its original prints and colours. Founded in 1951 by a visionary woman Armi Ratia, Marimekko is said to be one of the world's first real lifestyle brands combining fashion, bags and accessories as well as home decoration into one unique point of view.
It all began in 1949.
A gentleman by the name of Viljo Ratia founded Printex, a small Helsinki-based textile printing company, in 1949. Viljo's wife, Armi Ratia, envisioned a bold future for textile design and manufacturing. To fulfil her vision, she gathered promising young artists around her and asked them to create new and striking fabric prints for Printex.
Alas, whilst the collection enjoyed admirers. There were ... no buyers.
"Armi's solution was a fashion show filled with colour, grace and exceptional patterns. The clothes designed by renowned fashion designer Riitta Immonen were literally sold on the spot. Marimekko was registered as a company five days later, on 25 May 1951. The following year Marimekko opened its first store in Helsinki."
[ #DwellWell with Marimekko Unikko Mug :: SHOP IT ]
ON DESIGN
"Marimekko is not about trendy fashion. We make timeless and lasting products, which are by chance, often very fashionable." Armi Ratia, 1967
Over the years, Marimekko has remained true to it's original mission.
Through timeless, distinctive and functional designs, the collection wants to empower people to be happy as they are and bring joy to their everyday lives through bold prints and colours.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO DWELL WELL?
"Once in a while it's good to ask if this tastes good or is there perhaps some off-flavour. Following fashion and pointless ingratiation should be avoided. You should just boldly follow your own internal beacon."
ON SUSTAINABILITY
"For us, sustainability means respecting people and the environment in everything we do. Our value "fairness to everyone and everything" crystallises our sustainability thinking. We treat other people fairly, and we create products that bring joy for a long time with minimal impact on the environment."
The focus areas of Marimekko's sustainability work are in developing sustainable design and responsible sourcing - without neglecting the entire value chain of the products.
In 2016, Marimekko published a sustainability strategy extending to the year 2020. When drawing up the strategy we took into account the feedback collected from our principal stakeholders, such as investors, NGOs, and customers.
Our sustainability strategy is crystallised into five commitments: [ 1 ]Designing timeless, long-lasting, and functional products [ 2 ] Inspiring and engaging our customers and staff [ 3 ] Promoting responsible practices throughout our supply chain [ 4 ] Being resource-efficient and caring for the environment [ 4 ] Offering an inspiring and responsible workplace
Marimekko products are designed to withstand time and stay beautiful. When properly cared for they bring joy for a long time.
"Product design is the core of Marimekko and one of the most important aspects of sustainable development. The choices made in design and product development can significantly reduce the environmental impacts of the use and lifecycle of the product. Well designed, timeless, high quality and appropriate product brings its user joy for a long time, and is therefore a sustainable choice."
"We love hearing stories in store from women that have been collecting since the 1960's or even daughters that have inherited or been been gifted collections."
