Marimekko Simple Quality

Make Me A Kyoko

2010-02-03T08:57:00.002-05:00

Love at first site: Patty Young's Kyoko pattern.

The Location of This Blog Has Moved

2009-05-05T10:34:00.003-04:00

The items described in this blog may now be viewed at our parent company,Honfleur Home.

Eye Candy for Take-Out

2008-11-24T09:34:00.012-05:00

Thanks Korto!

2008-10-27T20:29:00.014-04:00

With Affection & Admiration,
Your Fans & Followers (of all ages!)

Bravo TV Project Runway Meet & Greet @ Marimekko

2008-10-27T16:08:00.007-04:00

Meet Korto Momula of Bravo TV's Project Runway Monday, 10/28/08 at Marimekko Silver Spring

6 - 7 pm Meet & Greet

Open to the Public

Above: The Seat Belt Dress Coat By Korto Mormula

Bio

Age: 33,

From: Monrovia, Liberia

Education: Fashion School in Ottawa, Canada

Favorite designers: Tracy Reese, Valentino & Randolph Duke

Fashion must: Great bag

Originally from Liberia, Korto moved to Canada to attend fashion school. After school, she moved outside of Little Rock, Arkansas, where she now resides with her husband and daughter. Drawing from her African roots, Korto infuses tribal details into her classic designs. She is inspired by rich fabrics and textures and says her designs are intended for real, full-figured women. In her spare time, Korto works as a freelance fashion photographer, dances in an African dance troupe and does African hair braiding and makeup. She says her family considers her to be fun and easygoing.

Marimekko Contacts: Michael Ross or Candace Long on 301-565-4705

More Information About Kioto

Korto was born in Monrovia, Liberia. Her family left Liberia and became refugees in Canada. This has had a profound impact on Korto and her family, and she's called herself a “poster child for never giving up.”

She has said that in her life, “The most traumatic [experience] would have to be the civil war in Liberia and how it tore apart my family and the only place that I knew as home. The devastation alone was bad and even though I was blessed to not have to be in the country at the time it affected me the same. My parents were greatly affected. They worked so hard for everything they achieved and to lose everything and start from scratch was hard but we did it and kept the family and our traditions as tight as we could. What doesn't kill you will make you stronger and it did, for all of us.”

Korto was always interested in design, and was encouraged by her high school art teacher to pursue it as a career. She wasn't able to immediately attend fashion school due to the turmoil her family was going through, but eventually she did attend L'Academie des Couturiers in Ottawa once the family settled in Canada.

This early educational experience within the rigors of fastidiously-made couture would appear to have been crucial to some of her success in Project Runway. She admits, “I was not a great seamstress then but design-wise, I was good. It took a while to get my trade together.” She says that when her first design, the yellow tablecloth dress from the Gristede's challenge was called “impeccably made” by the judges, she was gratified, she said, “that all my hard work paid off.”

When Tim Gunn visited her in Little Rock, he saw that Korto's creativity extended beyond clothing. She performs drumming and dancing with an African dance troupe, dabbles in fashion photography and does make-up. Additionally, her fashion talents extend to beading and making cowhide handbags, “complete with cow horn handles.”

In addition to the influence her African roots have had on her fashion, there's another nuance to her work that differentiates it from many of the designers we've seen on Project Runway. Korto says she does focus on making designs that are accessible to women of varying shapes and sizes.

“My designs are flattering to women of all sizes even though they have a lot of detail on them,” she said. “They can be worn by anyone from a size two to a twenty. Women of all sizes are beautiful, and they all want to look great. In the real world, people look like me and they want to buy clothes.”

Above excerpted from a piece by Leslie Seaton

Sew with the Sewing Diva

2008-10-10T08:42:00.016-04:00

Knit, Sew, Quilt & Craft @ Marimekko
Scenes from The Sewing Diva™ Classes @ Marimekko, October 2008

View Our Current Classes

Scenes from Summer 2009

2008-09-16T20:00:00.000-04:00

PAIVANTASAAJA from Marimekko Collection 091.

Goodwill at Marimekko

2008-08-25T18:33:00.006-04:00

Monday, August 25, 2008
When Shopping Actually Helps the World be Better

"Ain't No Junk In This Trunk" . . .
We've all heard of Goodwill. That is often the place you go to donate the things you shouldn't have bought in the first place, right? But did you know that it is also an organization that provides job training and assistance to people with disadvantages and disabilities? By selling the things people donate, it makes money to help others. And for the eco-fashionista, Goodwill is fast becoming a major source of easy basics as well as killer vintage finds.

Goodwill DC has recently launched a great new way to stock up on some one-of-a-kind vintage finds: the Goodwill Travelin' Vintage Trunk Show. Ms. Goodwill Fashion (a very entertaining blogger, who also works for Goodwill) expertly curated the selection of vintage pieces. And, let me tell you, garments (and shoes and hats and purses) were flying off the racks last Thursday at the Marimekko Concept Store in Silver Spring. I was incredibly disappointed with myself to have arrived almost an hour after the starting time! It was also great fun to hang out with some of DC's best known fashion bloggers from Fashion is Spinach and Project Beltway. We tried on outfits and giggled at ourselves. Good fun.

So, if you hear a rumor that there is a Goodwill Travelin' Trunk Show headed your way, make sure you get there early, because Ms. Goodwill's eye is stylishly sharp, the prices just can't be beat, and you will be shopping to make the world a better place.

Where & When

2008-08-20T19:30:00.001-04:00

Thursday, August 21: The good folks at Goodwill are holding a trunk show of vintage and vintage-inspired designs at Marimekko in Silver Spring from 5 to 7 PM. Marimekko and vintage together? It’s like a dream of ours, finally coming true.

Marimekko Fall/Winter 2008

2008-08-01T20:39:00.006-04:00

Presentation of the Fall/Winter 2008 Collection
Helsinki, Finland
January, 2008

2008-07-31T07:07:00.000-04:00

Marimekko for Avon Introduced in UK

2008-06-26T08:32:00.003-04:00

Marimekko for Avon Colour Cosmetics Collection introduced in the UK

As announced in March 2008, Marimekko has licensed its famous floral “Unikko” motif to an exclusive limited-edition cosmetics collection of Avon, a leading global beauty company. The Marimekko for Avon Colour Collection was introduced to the press in London, UK, on 18 June. The collection will launch globally in autumn 2008.

The Marimekko for Avon collection unites Marimekko’s signature brilliant hues and simple, yet sophisticated design with Avon’s fun, innovative colour formulae. Each piece in the range features Marimekko’s iconic ”Unikko” pattern designed by Maija Isola in 1964. Her daughter Kristina Isola re-interpreted the design with a unique look and fresh colouring for Avon.

The collection embodies Marimekko’s unique philosophy – design that brings beauty into people’s everyday lives. Licensing cooperation with Avon is Marimekko's first foray into the world of beauty and will enhance the Marimekko brand's recognition worldwide. With the collaboration, Marimekko is able to reach millions of women and share the exceptional combination of Marimekko’s bold, joyful design and Avon’s superior beauty products.

A Day in Pictures

2008-05-06T07:50:00.003-04:00

Marimekko Around The World:

A Buddhist monk studies in his room at the Kopan Monastery in Kathmandu, Nepal.

Source: BBC News, Day In Pictures, April 24, 2008

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/2/hi/in_pictures/7364981.stm

Windows to the World, Now Open

2008-05-04T21:48:00.009-04:00

Thousands Get Rare Glimpse of Diplomats' Side of Capital

By Michelle Boorstein
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, May 4, 2008; C03

One minute, talk at the Finnish Embassy yesterday was on food -- salmon spread on sourdough bread, sweet bread called pulla, and meatballs -- until the description of the Finnish recipes spread out on a huge table turned to a rye and rice pastry from Karelia.

"That's the place Russia stole from us," one of the servers said of the region lost to the Soviets decades ago, in the same matter-of-fact tone she had used seconds before for simply listing ingredients.

Politics, culture and food, intertwined -- a blend that played out all day yesterday with the start of Passport DC, a two-week exhibition in which dozens of embassies open their doors to places typically seen only by diplomats and people with visa requests and official business. Thousands attended, standing in long lines along Embassy Row on Massachusetts Avenue and in quieter neighborhoods around Northwest where the stately government outposts often go less noticed.

A Czech official handed out pamphlets about R&D centers as a bagpiper and drummer played Czech rock outside on the patio. Huge posters outside the Hungarian Embassy touted the "safe, European" economy, while inside a dancer performed with a jug of sloshing red wine on her head. The Finnish ambassador boasted to a packed room of the transparency and openness of his country as Finns in textile giant Marimekko T-shirts milled around. . .

Passport DC stems from a program last spring, when European Union embassies opened their doors for one day and were shocked when almost 40,000 people came. Those same embassies held open houses yesterday and many will hold concerts, lectures and art exhibitions this week. From May 11 through May 16, cultural centers, museums and some embassies will hold various programs, then there will be a second open house May 17 with non-European embassies including Iraq, Japan and Peru. Fifty-five embassies and 20 cultural centers will host public events during the two weeks.

Lines were long in many places yesterday, particularly at the British Embassy, the Portuguese Embassy and, by afternoon, the Finnish Embassy. . . Some came to the embassies because of their heritage, like Joan Janshego, 68. She visited the Hungarian Embassy with her sister in hopes of experiencing the (similar) Romanian culture they grew up with. She had performed ethnic dances as a child and speaks Romanian. "It's just nice even talking to the staff," she said.

Leena Nevalainen-Smith, a 49-year-old from Finland who lives in Cleveland, had come to Washington with her son and American-born husband to renew her passport. Late yesterday morning, she was looking around the urbane, open, cube-shaped embassy of her homeland.

"There's something about the airiness, the light" that is very Finnish, she said. Others came with an eye to the future and crowded the desks at each embassy promoting the countries' investment potential. Others came simply for the wow factor of seeing how the diplomatic half -- such a presence in the District, with 10,000 of them in the city -- lives. . .

Many said they were lured by free goodies, and the lines were long for a tiny cup of Hungarian goulash soup, Portuguese custard and the Czech Republic's Pilsner Urquell beer -- until the beverage ran out shortly after noon as the sun beat down.

"Time to go to France," someone shouted.

We Were Hipaused

2008-04-29T21:04:00.006-04:00

As Seen In Domino Magazine, April 2008, p. 111.

Organize Your Purse
"For the one who cheerfully mixes clashing prints with solids - and isn't too cool for a cheeky status symbol, slip a do-everything palette into this bright, glossy pouch."

Why Not Redeem Someone?

2008-04-08T05:01:00.006-04:00

The Marimekko Gift Card. Online, In Store.

H&M’S TRIBUTE TO MARIMEKKO

2008-04-05T09:37:00.003-04:00

It’s all about the energy of summer. This season H&M brings a burst of life to the fashion scene with its tribute to Marimekko, the Finnish textile company that has thrilled since the 50s with its bold, bright colour. Using prints from the famous Marimekko archive to create 70 pieces for men, women and children, the H&M design team will take you all the way from the city street to the heat of the beach. The collection will be sold in H&M’s stores on all 28 markets from April 10, 2008. Selected parts of the collection will also be sold at 10 Corso Como Milan and 10 Corso Como Seoul, and at Dover Street Market in London.

Marimekko is well known for vibrant bold simple prints. It was fashion icon Jackie Kennedy that put Marimekko on the international map when she wore their dresses during her husband’s 1960 presidential campaign. Since then, Marimekko has always symbolised optimism and positivity, which makes it a perfect match for H&M.

”H&M’s design team has always admired Marimekko’s vivid prints and colours, and they feel so right for this season,” says H&M’s Head of Design Ann-Sofie Johansson. “We came up with the idea of creating a summer collection built around the fun and joyful attitude of Marimekko’s vintage prints.”

Dipping into the massive 60s archive, the H&M design team have taken these fun retro prints and given them a very modern twist. Pinafores, smocks and shorts are the must-have women’s styles that sing out with holiday spirit. Certain designed pieces have been given extra detail for example three buttons on a cotton/silk mix apron dress. When it comes to the beach, the Tribute to Marimekko has both 50s-style one-piece swimsuits and bikinis, as well as sun-hats and versatile scarves that can be wrapped high on the head, or easily gathered into a sarong.

For men, the striking Marimekko stripes are used on what will become the favourite T-shirt of the season. There are also short-sleeve shirts and shorts in more intense prints. For children there are bright fun matching prints on apron dresses, sun-hats, skirted swimsuits and even a patterned teddy bear!

INSPIRATION: The brilliant optimism of the Marimekko archive

COLOURS: Perfect combinations of red and pink; olive and orange; red and turquoise; red, white and black

MATERIALS: Cotton, jersey, cotton/silk mix

2008-04-03T23:33:00.009-04:00

The Ikoni Dress by Mika Piirainen. $219. Available April 12, 2008.

We are currently accepting pre-orders for shipment or in-store pickup. Phone Marimekko Washington, DC on 301.565.4705 to reserve an Ikoni. As many Mairmekko fans know, the Marimekko® brand prides itself on its fine attention to detail and quality of production; they produce in limited batches. All this to say, though we've done our best to stock up on all sizes, dress availability is on a first come, first serve basis.

Also available for pre-order and shipping April 12, 2008 . . . the popular "Pomme" T. $59. Call us on 301.565.4705 to stake a claim.

Marimekko Spring/Summer 2008

2008-03-26T20:42:00.000-04:00

The Independent

2008-03-22T21:22:00.004-04:00

How to Dress Like Jackie O

Fifty years after America's First Lady of fashion took the boat trip that launched the brand, Marimekko's prints and patterns are conquering the world again

"Marimekko's latest collection Features Bright and Beautiful Patterns"

By Susie Mesure
Sunday, 23 March 2008

Marimekko is having a moment. Another moment, to be precise, as almost half a century since Jackie Kennedy put the Finnish design house on the global fashion map its bohemian florals and bold graphic prints are back in vogue in a big way. The iconic 1960s designs, perfect for this season's bright and beautiful patterns, would have looked as fresh as ever on the spring catwalks. No wonder fashionistas from high-end to high street are hooked.

Take Manolo Blahnik, the high priest of footwear. He has splashed Marimekko's most iconic print, Unikko, a bright red poppy flower, across one pair of his masterful stilettos and used BonBon, a black and white print, on another. Dolce & Gabbana has been selling floral-spattered dresses that shriek Marimekko (even if the Italians are now in trouble with the company for, ahem, "borrowing" its famed red flower without asking. Or at least using something suspiciously similar). For those on more modest budgets, next month the Swedish mega-chain Hennes & Mauritz (H&M to us) launches a capsule collection daubed with yet more designs from Finland's national treasure.

So what is it about Marimekko that has suddenly got the fashion world so excited? To Blahnik, Marimekko is an old friend; its fabrics scattered on cushions throughout his homes. "In the 1960s everybody was wearing it," he says. "I remember my sister in their smocks. To me, their prints look more modern today than back then. There are millions of their prints that I adore but I really have a particular fondness for Unikko and BonBon."

Margareta van den Bosch, H&M's head of design, thinks its Marimekko collection, which hits stores on 10 April, will be "joyfully fresh, like a vitamin injection". The 50-piece range will feature prints from the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s on cute A-line tunics, maxi dresses and smocks. There will also be items for men and children. Although this is far removed from H&M's recent tie-ups with the likes of Stella McCartney and Karl Lagerfeld, fashion pundits predict a scramble. If they are correct, the range should do for Marimekko's Noughties image what Jackie Kennedy did for it when she stumbled upon several cotton shift dresses at a Cape Cod boutique. She wore one of her finds on the cover of the December 1960 issue of Sports Illustrated. The public loved her choice and Marimekko loved the effect on its sales.

These days the label is better known in the US than in the UK. Sex and the City devotees obsessed about Carrie Bradshaw's Marimekko curtains (the 1960 print Tantsu) and loved the vintage Marimekko sundress she wore in the cult series' 64th episode. The homewares retailer Crate & Barrel has a long relationship with the Finnish company.

The story of Marimekko – which is Finnish for "Mary's dress" – dates back to 1951, when Armi Ratia transformed her husband's small oilcloth and textile printing company into a graphic-design hothouse. Charlotte Fiell, a design historian, explains: "Instead of being slaves to contemporary fashion trends, Marimekko set out to set itself apart from the fashion industry. Its first collection was so bright and colourful and just so different from the drab, earthy colours of the 1950s. The durability of its designs shows you can have fashion that is impervious to trends."

The company flourished in the 1960s and 1970s, making a name for itself as a resolutely female business, but after Ratia's death in 1979 came something of a decline. After being sold to the Finnish conglomerate Amer Group in 1985, it came close to bankruptcy.

Kirsti Paakkanen, a stalwart of Finland's advertising world, was persuaded out of retirement to buy Marimekko from Amer for a song and under her aegis the company prospered, tapping new export markets. She approved the H&M collaboration because she felt the Swedish retailer would "take the brand forward in a very trendy and high-quality manner".

It was to a man, Mika Ihamuotila, that Paakkanen handed over last month when she retired a second time. She says his gender does not bother her. "He has committed to treasure Marimekko's current culture – both internal and external."

Ihamuotila says he "deeply respects and treasures" the company's heritage. "With its design, Marimekko has spoken a language that crosses boundaries and has made Finnish design well-known the world over. I see Marimekko as a 'pearl'. However, I think the company could be much, much more."

Don't bet on that Marimekko moment ending any time soon.

High on Dry: Clothes, Accessories That Play In The Rain

2008-03-14T06:00:00.019-04:00

GRAY CLOUDS AND SOGGY SKIES don't have to rain on your fashion parade. With all the hip-yet-monsoon-ready trench coats, groovy umbrellas and stompingly cool boots around, bad weather might just make you look good.

Even higher-end designers (Chloe, Nanette Lepore) have gone out in the rain with way-beyond-Gorton's fisherman trenches in eye-popping hues.

Such revved-up storm styles give "folks not otherwise comfortable with unusual prints or bold, bright colors a chance to go to town," says Marni Frankel, owner of Silver Spring's Marimekko.

Add a pair of wild wellies and a 'brella with attitude, which Frankel thinks "gives bounce to your step on a rainy day." That should help you jump over all those pesky puddles.

Jennifer wears a Marimekko Ruusupuu poncho ($75, Marimekko, 8519 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring; 800-656-3587;marimekkowashingtondc.com) and carries a Pylones umbrella from Fred Flare.

The Ruusupuu Poncho & Umbrella, Art by Maija Isola, 1957

Make Our Day

2008-02-22T15:32:00.021-05:00

From Home & Garden Television's Taniya Nayak, As Seen On HGTV's Broadcast "Designed To Sell" Program.

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Design Digs: Marimekko Washington, DC - My Favorite New Source. Y'know all those gorgeous fabrics that hang in the Crate & Barrel stores to highlight the displays? I always notice them when I am shopping because they are so cool! They are contemporary, colorful printed fabrics that look just like art. Well, what are these hangings exactly? They're Marimekko.

I stumbled upon the actual Marimekko Concept Store in Silver Spring, Maryland. I am hooked! You will probably see a lot of Marimekko in my upcoming shows. The store itself makes awesome art of these fabrics. I have been stretching them on basic wooden frames that the store staff build in-house. I am loving the fact that I can make it as large as I want, and I splice them up so the pattern continues from frame-to-frame. I also recently used another print for some pillows, and it added the perfect punch of color. I also just ordered a print for my own home (it's abstract pears, also known as Paaryna) and used their in-house upholsterer to create the finished piece. So cool!

My only reason to share this info is that I LOVE Love Love it! My other favorite thing about the store is that they have one super talented manager/designer that is the bomb at giving advice and being very patient (I had about 20 bolts of fabric on the table)! Michael - you rock!

For more information about Taniya Nayak, check out www.designdigs.net.

Flattering February

2008-02-01T19:39:00.000-05:00

Matin by Mika Piirainen Resort 2008. $189. Available in-shop and online.

Uneeda Unessa

2008-01-27T09:35:00.000-05:00

So, it's probable that I'm dating myself here - I mean, haven't biscuits been thoroughly upstaged by scones? Well, irrespective, this is truly great insta-art.

Ingredients:

One Unessa Tea Towel.
One frame to fit the 18.5" x 27.5" tea towel.
One nail or piece of wire to affix frame to wall.

Total Time:
15 minutes

Makes:
One dose of heart-healthy happiness per person, per viewing

Each Serving:
No calories, no artificial sweeteners.

Cause You've Got Personality

2008-01-26T22:42:00.001-05:00

A portion of our Marimekko Concept Store and web site features vendors whose work highlights our Marimekko product offering. Our company is committed to providing exposure and support to both regional and national new market entrants who are not represented by mass market retailers.

To submit a product(s) for our consideration, include a hyperlink to your work and/or digital images, an overview of your product and its target audience, and the location in which the item is produced/manufactured. Vendor inquiries should include the phrase "vendor inquiry" in the subject. While we cannot reply to every inquiry we receive, we will promptly reply to those that we wish to assess.

February Feature
Yomphana Designs
Washington, DC Based Artisan
Courtesy of the Sharon Fine Gallery
Peruvian Opal Necklace
$79

It's A Green Thing . . . Choose What You Want to Do

2008-01-10T10:46:00.000-05:00

As Seen In . . .

Is green the new black? Well, it's definitely in the forecast for Spring 2008. [And as tempting as it is, we are making no comment on this blog about "going green", global warming, or environmental policy.] So, without further adieu and as a welcome endorsement of the spirit-lifting impact of happy colors:

Here are some storage solutions with a fresh, clean look to brighten up your kitchen, office or living room. These lovely Onni tin boxes will engage the eye with their sinuous leaves and verdant textures. Design by Teresa Moorhouse. Small tin dimensions: 4" x 4" x 4.3". Large tin dimensions: 4" x 4" x 7". From $9.00 - $14.50. MarimekkoWashingtonDC.com

The Washington Post: Great Maryland Stores

2007-12-02T08:00:00.000-05:00

December 2, 2007

"It's December and the holidays are inching closer by the minute. We've already scouted can't-fail gift stops in the District and Northern Virginia; This time, it's Maryland's turn. Maybe you've whittled your shopping list to just a few stragglers or perhaps your holiday hunt hasn't even begun. Either way, you're sure to find something grand at one of these top shops.

Imbibe

2007-11-27T15:55:00.000-05:00

(moderately, please)

As seen in Imbibe Magazine, December 2007

DCStyle Magazine Does The Fandango

2007-11-26T18:14:00.000-05:00

Dish in Style

"The season of entertaining is upon us and what you set on your table says more about you than you may think. Take a look at some of these personality-fueled place settings I found around town, and avoid being branded the "the dull one."

For a traditional touch, check out Marimekko’s Fandango plate sets. Red and white with just the right amount of elaborate design, these dessert plates are the perfect holiday addition to any existing dinnerware set.

So make your list and check it twice, cause the holiday season is here and your guests are arriving before you know it."

Marimekko, 8519 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring, MD, 301-565-4705, Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Published November 21, 2007

Two Really Good Buys

2007-11-25T02:49:00.000-05:00

Marimekko Candles $9.50 USD &
Ornaments $12.00 USD

My Oh Maija

2007-11-24T09:43:00.000-05:00

Maija Louekari continues to show precisely how knowledge of and appreciation for art, history, culture, and surroundings inspire the objects that decorate our lives. From the Marimekko Autumn/Winter 2007 collection.

[Shown: Louekari's Kulkue Tea Towel Set, Mug, and Plate; Vuokko Nuresniemi's Pirput Parput Mug]

The Washington Post Discusses: Homefront Silver Spring, Maryland

2007-11-23T07:00:00.000-05:00

"Silver Spring, Md: So, what is the story about Bombay Co.? I mainly ask because I live in downtown Silver Spring and we are sorely in need of some decent stores. . . What's the skinny?!

Jura Koncius: Dear Silver Spring. You DO need more stores there. Things are bubbling up at midcity - which is what they call 14th and U now. Silver Spring has wonderful nightlife, restaurants and a subway. Love the new Marimekko store. But we need more..Bombay has been around since 1978 and originally started making really affordable copies of 18th and 19th century classic English furniture. It strayed along the way design wise, changing their look many times."

The Washington Post, November 1, 2007

Finnish Fashion Designer at Marimekko 11/17/07

2007-11-17T06:36:00.000-05:00

Saturday, November 17, 2007
To The Public: 11:00 am-2:00 pm
Press Briefing and Embassy Interviews as Scheduled
Contact - Maria Bunch, bunchmaria@marimekkowashingtondc.com
8519 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910
1-800-656-3587
Store hours: 10 am - 9 pm Mon.-Sat; 10 am -5 pm Sunday
www.marimekkowashingtondc.com

Mika Piirainen, a principal fashion designer for the Marimekko Corporation, Helsinki, Finland, will make a guest appearance at the Silver Spring Maryland Marimekko Concept Store, Saturday, November 17, 11:00 am-2:00 pm. Come and meet Mr. Piirainen and view his fall collection of clothing for men, women, and children and accessory wear including bags and hats. Hear him speak about his designs for this iconic international company. Mr. Piirainen's work is described as fresh, happy, contrast-accentuating, and simplistic in design. When asked how he would describe his work, he explained, "I seek uncluttered forms and I make bold use of color. The keywords are practically, originality, and minimalism. I like both light and heavy natural materials." Mr. Piirainen makes extensive use of historical Marimekko patterns. He collaborates closely with textile designer, Kristina Isola, the daughter of legendary designer and visual artist Maija Isolo.

Mr. Piirainen was trained at the Lahti Design Institute, Lahti, Finland and at the Maharishi Art Academy, Helsinki, Finland. He has participated in numerous fashion shows and exhibitions. He is represented in the current touring design exhibition in Europe, Scandinavian Design-Beyond Myths.

Since its inception in 1951, Marimekko has built a lifestyle brand that preserves its historical roots and internationally recognizable patterns while embracing the work of younger designers of distinction. The DC area Marimekko store is the largest concept store outside of Finland, and it serves as a destination spot for community-oriented events and lectures that tap the varied writers, authors, musicians, and artists that live in and around the greater Washington DC area.

To register for this event and/or to receive notifications of events, click here to access our event participation system.

Upcoming Marimekko Events

2007-11-16T21:17:00.000-05:00

Our Twist on the Typical Retail Store . . .
The Silver Spring Marimekko concept store is situated in the heart of the Washington, DC Metro area. In addition to carrying products where price-meets-quality, we also serve as a destination spot for community-oriented events and lectures that tap the varied writers, authors, musicians, artists, and other creative types that live in and around the Washington, DC area.

To register for an event and/or to receive notifications of events, click here to access our event participation system.

Store Displays, Fall/Winter 2007

2007-11-15T10:34:00.000-05:00

The Jaakharu Collection; Pattern by Klaus Haapaniem

[Shown: La Boca Tray, La Boca Latte Mugs, Unikko Black/Grey and . . . Unikko Beige/Cream]

[Shown: Kivet Duvet, Orange/Raspberry; Pirput Parpat Mug; Stilla Tray; Hetkia Moments Latte Mugs; Stilla Latte Mugs; Paayrna Tea Towels; Paayrna Trays]

No, It's Not an Underground Prison

2007-11-14T19:05:00.000-05:00

It's the Washington, DC Metro system . . . (clean, well designed, and far, far below ground)

We thought it'd be nice for riders to absorb some Marimekko verve as they wait on the platform - a little pick-me-up of sorts to offset the ubiquitous brown/grey concrete decor.

Examples of Our Workroom Pieces

2007-11-10T20:02:00.000-05:00

Clockwise: Custom Accent Pillow, Putkinotko Fabric. Custom Bedspread, Stilla Fabric.
Custom Duvet Cover, Pillowcases, and Shams, Dombra Fabric. Upholstered Sofa, Joonas Fabric. Seeking something to suit your home furnishing specifications? Call the fabric department or drop an email.

.

Inspiration Joikapoika

2007-11-01T16:41:00.000-04:00

The Jokapoika shirt, designed by Vuokko Nurmesniemi in 1956, is Marimekko’s oldest item in continuous production. The Piccolo fabric upon which the design is printed is even older, dating from 1953. At present, there is also a women’s Joikapoika fit and, as shown, the Pikkupojanpaita for children.

Have It Your Way

2007-10-28T20:24:00.000-04:00

Custom Wall Hangings by Marimekko Washington, DC - Interested in creating your own?

Email us with subject line "Wall Hanging" or contact Michael Ross or Valerie Roseborough of our staff on 800.656.3587 or 301.565.4705.

Shown: Wall hanging featuring Marimekko Iso Satakieli Fabric

Shown: Wall hanging featuring Marimekko Latvassa Korkealla Fabric

In A Visitor's Own Words

2007-10-04T17:17:00.000-04:00

October 03, 2007
Pretty Store

"During a quick trip to the bookstore today, I found what a friend told me last weekend to be true: Marimekko has opened a store locally. We couldn't stay long because nap time was near, but I managed to snap a couple of interesting corners. Isn't their cutting counter pretty? Just look at this assortment! Thanks Marimekko!"

Also, here's the children's section, where they featured goods from a couple of other cute companies. Click image for a close-up.

Excerpted from http://www.mollyirwin.typepad.com/

Do You Know Where You're Going To?

2007-09-21T21:26:00.000-04:00

"McGinty's was my first foray into the nightlife of Silver Spring. I can't say that Silver Spring is my new hangout, but I definitely wouldn't be surprised if I come back .... especially because of that bangin' Marimekko trench I saw in the window of the gorgeous Marimekko store down the street, really close to the DSW . . ." Yelp.Com, 09/25/07

New Arrivals - Fall Apparel Collections

2007-09-20T22:43:00.000-04:00

New in-store arrivals include the following from Samu-Josi Koski, Jaana Parkkila, and Mika Piirainen. Don't see a clothing article from Marimekko seasonal collections 073 and/or 074 that you're seeking? Drop an email or call us on 800-656-3587 M - F 8:30 - 9 pm EST.

Samu-Jossi Koski & Jukka Rintala - Winter Preview

2007-08-01T13:40:00.000-04:00

Images from Samu-Jusi Koski's spirited and beautifully rendered "rain drops keep falling on my head" collection for Autumn/Winter and Jukka Rintala's "Eileen Fisher, did you know that women seeking comfortable elegance might also enjoy a dash of color every now and again?"* Winter 2007 Collections

*OK, this comment is a little "snarky" - I'm sure I'll revise it . . . soon.

Marimekko Turned Madame Malkins

2007-07-21T20:42:00.000-04:00

Pottermania: Bewitched and Besotted by Book 7
Excerpted from The Washington Post, July 21, 2007

At 12:53 p.m. in the District, there was a crush at the Potter check-in table at the Borders at 18th and L streets. . .

At 5:50 p.m., Adam Rice, 32, of Alexandria arrived at A Likely Story Children's Bookstore, which was organizing a party in Old Town. He said he spent the week "a wreck," avoiding news Web sites that might ruin the ending. "I've been honestly kind of freaking out about the spoilers this week," Rice said. . .

At 8:27 p.m., at The Potter's House cafe and bookstore in Adams Morgan, bookstore manager Tom Taylor breathed relief: He had found and retrieved 70 "Deathly Hallows" copies that had been mistakenly delivered elsewhere. . .

About 10 p.m . , more than 1,000 people jammed Diagon Alley in Silver Spring, a.k.a. Ellsworth Drive. McGinty's Public House became the Leaky Cauldron, serving up "Deathly Hallows" shepherd's pie, Fizzing Whizbee ice cream and Butterbeer, which was actually Boddington's ale. A caped robe thrown over a mannequin turned the Marimekko shop into Madam Malkins' boutique. And Muggles (non-magical folks) mingled with wizards and witches.

Silver Spring, Maryland Hosts 2nd Largest Harry Potter Shindig in Nation

2007-07-21T06:39:00.000-04:00

As Silver Spring, Maryland, Harry Potter fans await the release of 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows' at the stroke of midnight Friday July 20, they will be treated to a magnificent re-creation of Diagon Alley. This transformation of Silver Spring's downtown is the brainstorm of Borders Books, one many many local business to participate in the festivities. Whole Foods Markets will host a butter beer brewing booth and Marimekko invites visitors to make their own capes. Marimekko, the Finnish design concept store, is a relatively new resident in Silver Spring. The Silver Spring Marimekko is the largest of the chain's design concept stores in the United States as well as outside of Finland. Another Silver Spring anchor, the American Film Institute (AFI), will be showing all four of the Harry Potter movies back to back on Friday and Saturday

Inside Borders, which will recast itself as Flourish and Blotts for the occasion, Harry Potter fans can attend the Grand Hallows Ball beginning at 10 p.m. Prior to the ball, there will be dancing in the Alley with live musicians. Organizers warn, however, that broom riding is strictly prohibited.

Wand making, dancing, face painting, strolling entertainers, an animatronic sorting hat, and costume contests will entertain eager Potter fans as they await the Witching Hour.

Sources: "Grand Hallows Ball," Borders; notice from community planner Alan Bowser, parkhillscivic@yahoogroups.com; "The Grand Hallows Ball", www.silverspringdowntown.com

This Blogger's Two Cents . . . O.K., Maybe 3

2007-07-01T15:33:00.000-04:00

If I had to . . .

1. Get by with just one all-purpose classic Marimekko bag this fall season The
Magneetitlaukku Messenger Bag in Khaki.

2. Choose one basic black pant that's just right for, well, you name it (the street, the supermarket, yoga, pilates, underneath a Marimekko dress) it'd have to be the black $79 Tilavus pant. It even handles pesky shedding dog hair and, more importantly, repeat wear.

2007-06-20T20:50:00.000-04:00

Cachet
Marimekko Style: A Bold New Concept Store Debuts in Silver Spring

Marimekko officially arrived on the fashion scene in 1960 when Jackie Kennedy appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated wearing one of the Finnish company’s mini-dresses. All the rage in the ’60s and ’70s, Marimekko’s bold and daring textiles are still winning design awards today.

Longtime fans and newer converts alike will celebrate the April 30th opening of a Marimekko concept store in downtown Silver Spring. The 4,000-square-foot showroom will stock 120 fabrics, from classic to recent creations; bedding and bath accessories; kitchenware; apparel for men, women and children; and a hip selection of handbags. A workroom onsite will create custom window treatments, accent pillows, upholstery, custom bedding coordinates, monogramming and more.

Store owner Marni Frankel has admired the Marimekko brand since childhood. “One of the company’s most laudable attributes,” she says, “is its ability to mix the work of its pioneer designers with that of younger designers who respect the past but have a vision of what the brand can become.” She plans to roll out future Marimekko locations in Chevy Chase and Penn Quarter in the next two years.

Marimekko is located at 8519 Georgia Avenue, across from Discovery Communications. For more information, call (800) 656-3587; to order products online, visit the Web

—Sharon Jaffe Dan

Simply Irresistable

2007-06-03T20:28:00.000-04:00

Because men matter. [And you couldn't possibly imagine just how much restraint it's taken to resist qualifying this statement in accordance with journalists' 5 Ws, the old who, what, when, where, and why. And, of course, how.]

Tarja Turunen - Smells Like Teen Spirit

2007-05-31T10:21:00.000-04:00

Kurt Cobain (Nirvana song follows the intro) meets soprano Tarja Turunen who is wearing designer Jaana Parkkila at the Marimekko Fashion Show held at the Kaampi Center in Helsinki. Beautiful voice albeit mournful rendition of "Smells Like". [Perhaps the crying baby heard in the video is reflecting Cobain's reaction from below?] File under things that make you go hmmmm . . . P.S. We actually have in stock two of the tops that Turunen is wearing and one remaining skirt (ours are in the white/black colorway). Email if you're interested.

A Stripe is not a Stripe is not a Stripe is not a Stripe

2007-05-29T13:18:00.001-04:00

Even that Banana Republic/Old Navy/Kohl's brand horizontal stripe-on-stripe that you see on t-shirts everywhere has its origin, it's raison-d'etre if you will.

Annika Rimala designed clothing for Marimekko from 1959 to 1982, and her Tasaraita stripe design debuted in 1968. Rimala believed in "anonymous" design: that people should be motivated to to buy something because it was comfortable and of quality, not because it was a particular season's fashion statement or because the item bore the label of a designer du-jour. Her aim was to create something that was functional, practical, and timeless, something of high quality with a fit for all sizes and ages and suitable for both genders. The Tasaraita stripe by Rimala for Marimekko. To borrow from Levi Struass & Co., it's an original.

Take This Bag And . . . Wash It!

2007-05-28T07:37:00.001-04:00

OK, it's not a challenge. Really. While we don't encourage abuse, Marimekko bags can take a beating. Need to overstuff it on occasion? The zipper won't let you down and won't buckle under the added load. Has chocolate melted or other detritus accumulated on the bottom of your bag? Do this: turn it inside out and wash on gentle cycle with like colors. Air dry. The bag keeps its form and good looks. We hope you'll then see why, in addition to its great styling, a canvas Marimekko is the bag for all time.

The Ambassador Stops In . . .

2007-05-11T08:30:00.000-04:00

Straight Outta Finland

Finnish Ambassador Pekka Lintu on Thursday afternoon became the first official customer of Marimekko in downtown Silver Spring before the doors opened for its grand opening party.

Lintu bought a child’s shirt from the Finnish retailer’s first D.C. location, refusing to accept it as a gift from the stunned and nervous staff. What does one do when the ambassador just happens to drop by? “Run, get champagne as quickly as you can find it and figure out how to work the cash register,” owner Marni Frankel said.

[Photo Credit: Anne Mandelbaum Photography]

Big Night

2007-05-11T02:59:00.000-04:00

From Yelp.com
"simply gorgeous! was at the store's gala opening this evening and touched probably every item in it. streamlined white shelves and custom architect-designed clothing racks are the backdrop for a glorious mutiny of color -- dramatic, modern-retro, boisterous-refined color. you can't feel grey in a marimekko store.

you may recognize the brand's "big flower" print or one of the other iconic prints they have trailblazed over the last 50 years. for the conservative, there are simple graphic stripes and dots, and adorable kids stuff; for the mod folks, which the opening definitely attracted (so... many... cute... dresses!) the graphics get waaay bolder and brighter. for your inner interior designer, the store sells fabric as well as plates, ceramics, linens, and decorative objects -- pretty much anything you could possibly screenprint on. plus the website says they intend to continue hosting events, art receptions, readings, and classes for the local arts community.

5-star earners: the friendly staff, the awesome "kitan" dress, and the "closs" coat in red. yes, please!"

From a third generation Marimekko fan on Capital Hill
"When I was invited to the opening of the new Marimekko store in Silver Spring, I was so excited. The patterns are bright, sweet, and fresh. They could punch up the most boring Pottery Barn apartment. I actually have a wall hanging in the Unikko pattern that certainly livens up my sandstone living space. The store is bright and airy, and the best part is actually the baby clothes and the housewares. Seriously, if any of my friends move or pop out a kid, they are getting a present from here. Marimekko: Love it, Live it."

From DC Celine Online
Marimekko is a design concept - and store - worth visiting. And to go on a mini-rant, the Daily Candy pitch this week just didn't do it justice. It's an intelligent brand, perfect for the cerebral fashionista of DC. Clothing is simple and structured, yet easy and no-nonsense. Architectural, to a point. The fabrics are amazing - jerseys are the softest cotton you've ever felt (H couldn't keep his hands off of one understated logo T), and the "oxfords" are jauntily textured.

And then there was the party. It made people happy. The feel was as bright and airy as the design. Fortunately for me, there were no cakelove cupcakes in sight (Warren Brown was a co-host). Cookies, yes, cupcakes, no. The few models wandering the party were inviting, not intimidating, and the crowd was, like the designs, smart, curious, and clearly willing to buy (the registers were ringing all night). My one real disappontment? I didn't get to meet Pamela Deutsch, one of the What Not to Wear producers, and another host. Oh, well.

Oh - and nearly forgot. Must say that the press materials and guest gift bags were some of the most thoughtful I've seen. Sweet pieces from the Paaryna (Spring 07) collection - a mug that now graces my office desk (much better than the lame sample one I have from the mug supply company), and a darling little tray that now holds my water pitcher and glass on my nightstand.

A return trip is definitely in order.

From Brightest Young Things
in sheer number, marimekko’s s silver spring '07 clothing offerings are huge. besides offering their tried-and-true classic pieces (of which the shapes and colors are surprisingly NOW), six designers - ritva falla, mika piirainen, jukka rintala, jaana parkkila, samu-jussi koski ), and matti seppanen (the sole menswear designer) - each put together a collection based on their own individual aesthetics, and built on classic marimekko prints and designs.

the seppanen men’s range is small and a little too ‘express’ for my taste; guys will probably fare better with the more casual ‘classic’ offerings - or with marimekko’s bags, of which many are totally unisex and universally appealing. in womenswear, the casual half of falla’s line is the most easily accessible - the bright colors and modern (sometimes experimental) shapes are far more appealing than anything in the rintala or parkkila ranges. don’t count out the other lines, though - at the opening on thursday night no less than six women were wearing black-and-white print dresses by piirainen, and the koski collection is the best of the bunch. its casual half features an oversized strawberry print on comfortable cotton and both dark and light wide-legged denim; the remainder of the collection is feminine and 60s-inspired without being overtly girly or too mod (if such a thing exists). our favorite dress of the night was the audreina (view here), and even though i can’t find the amazingly cut, perfectly shaped, khaki-colored marni-ish dress that i was drooling over at the opening in any of the lookbooks, i’d be willing to put money on the fact that it’s by koski, as well.

in all, marimekko’s huge spring/summer collection is far more hit than miss, and the silver spring store is well-stocked with the best of it - they had nearly every piece of the higher-end koski, and i saw more of the lines that didn’t quite get it right in the lookbook and online than i did in the shop. and it’s surprisingly affordable! well played, Finland.

Dress Finds From The Runway

2007-03-27T21:36:00.000-04:00

From Helsinki Design Week, Sea Cable Hall. Designs by Samu-Jossi Koski. View online

Set Your Child's Stage

2007-03-26T10:16:00.000-04:00

Everything's Coming Up "Pop"py

2007-03-25T07:59:00.000-04:00

The Washington Post Express: "Graphic Artistry"

ANDY WARHOL's platter-sized posies. Roy Lichtenstein's neon dots. Peter Max's Day-Glo clouds. Pop Art stars bold prints and bolder colors, a combo that's adding painterly punch to spring fashion. Some styles — little jackets with huge spots, Twiggyish trapeze dresses — channel '60s London; others mix subtler hues and shapes. Breezy and slightly beachy, such slightly psychedelic graphics scream Bermuda vacation or night on the town. "Pop prints are an antidote to dreariness," said Marni Frankel of marimekkowashingtondc.com. "They're so happy!"

» TO BROWSE the eye-popping items from this Weekend Styles fashion spread, click here.

Here, Emily wears plastic hoops ($16.50, Luna, 7232 Woodmont Ave., Bethesda; 301-656-1111) and a Marimekko knit "Aseem" coat ($295, marimekkowashingtondc.com). Shot at D.C.'s poppy Hotel Helix.

Source: The Washington Post Express, By Jennifer Barger, March 25, 2007

Going Up?

2007-03-06T04:33:00.000-05:00

Marimekko has teamed with elevator company KONE to beautify the interior walls of elevator cars. “Applying Marimekko designs to elevator cars will turn the ride into an experience that can be continued in other interior designs of the building. The agreement reflects the goal of both parties to make design a part of people’s everyday lives,” says Kirsti Paakkanen, President, Marimekko.

Shown: Adorning this elevator is Maija Louekari's Ho-Hoi! pattern. This pattern was the fabric design category winner of the 2005 Elle Decoration International Design Award.

About The Designer: Maija Louekari has been creating prints for Marimekko since 2003 when she won a competition jointly organized by Marimekko and the University of Art and Design Helsinki. Her designs are characterized by expressive line drawings and large planes of color, often incorporating vivid glimpses of moments or landscapes.

What We Brought Back From Finland

2007-02-28T19:32:00.000-05:00

[And, sorry to say, we don't mean the models. Blame Customs. Something about first acquiring work visas . . .]

The Design Museum Gent

2007-01-30T19:00:00.001-05:00

Exhibition
Marimekko: Textiles, Fashion, Architecture
16 December 2006 > 9 April 2007

Armi and Viljo Ratia established the company Marimekko in 1951 to brighten up post-war Finland with trendy interior textiles and groovy clothes. The company earned itself a world-wide reputation by 1960. Jackie Kennedy, wife of presidential candidate John F. Kennedy, bought seven dresses with a label that had remained almost unknown until then. The textiles, with their big graphic patterns in bright colours, became an icon of the sixties.

In the early 1980s the company disappeared from the spotlights. Kirsti Paakkanen was asked to give Marimekko a new Èlan in 1991. And she managed to do just that. Like Armi Ratia did before her, Paakkanen attracted the best Finnish designers. The range of strong and highly recognizable prints from the sixties was extended with contemporary creations.

Vuokko Nurmesniemi - Exhibition & Retrospective

2007-01-26T08:14:00.000-05:00

Design Museum Finland's summer exhibition of 2007 presents the unique life’s work of Vuokko Nurmesniemi. This retrospective is the first comprehensive overview of Vuokko Nurmesniemi’s extensive oeuvre of over five decades. It also provides an important chapter to the history of Finnish design in the post-war period.

Originally trained as a ceramist, Vuokko Eskolin (born 1930, Eskolin-Nurmesniemi from 1953 ) was hired as a designer by Marimekko in 1953. Supported by Marimekko’s broad-minded managing director Armi Ratia, she went on to revolutionize the history of printed fabrics and fashion design in Finland. Vuokko Nurmesniemi’s prints employed large planes of colour, and she rejected the close-fitting cut of women’s dresses and gowns favoured in international fashions at the time. Her best-known prints for Marimekko/Printex include Tiibet, Muksunhylly, Rötti and Varvunraita, standard favourites among clothing designed by her are the
Jokapoika shirt and the Iloinen Mekko dress. Vuokko Nurmesniemi figured prominently in giving Marimekko an international profile. A veritable media success came when Jacqueline Kennedy ordered a series of dresses designed by Vuokko Nurmesniemi.

Vuokko Nurmesniemi left Marimekko in 1960 and in 1964 she established a company bearing her own name, where she was both managing director and the only designer. She went on to develop her own uncompromising line at Vuokko Oy, encompassing the whole process of production and marketing, from the design of fabrics to finished products, their presentation in fashion photography, fashion shows and being worn by the designer herself. Examples include the Pyörre and Myllynkivi designs and her black-and-white evening gowns of velvet. Vuokko’s discreet everyday wear employing graphically distinct fabrics and often ingenious cuts and solutions and her exclusive, sculptural evening gowns found a strong following both in Finland and abroad. After the company’s bankruptcy in the late 1980s and the turbulent years that followed, Vuokko Nurmesniemi opened a new shop in Helsinki’s Esplanade in 1993, with a line of fashions bringing her design philosophy to the present day.

The Vuokko exhibition at Design Museum features fabrics and fashions and explores Vuokko Nurmesniemi’s work as a designer of ryijy weaves, glass and ceramics, while also addressing her important role as a designer of exhibitions together with her husband Antti Nurmesniemi, and as a leading figure in the international success of Finnish design.

Source: Finnguide, http://www.finnguide.fi/sightguide/artdetail.asp?a=3024,; original text from Design Museum Finland

When Is A Product Not Just A Product?

2007-01-24T10:36:00.002-05:00

(Or How One Woman's Perspective Informed A Culture)

Marimekko founder Armi Ratia never limited the meaning of fashion. "Clothes are but a part of the totality of fashion, which includes interiors, food, art, literature, lifestyle. " She also said that "Marimekko’s deepest being is not the products but the force of the creativity from which ideas are generated which, in turn, are expressed in the form of products." Past president Kirsti Paakkanen imparts that “The most important thing is respect for the customer. A human being always takes centre stage. Our starting point is still the one from which Armi Ratia began: we want to produce joy and light, good, high-quality products that will illuminate people’s everyday lives." To us, an ocean and many miles away, it is this company's values and foresight, and -- more importantly -- its ability to satisfy its values and "way of seeing" that informs cultures and shapes a way of life.

What Customers Think: Live & Learn

2007-01-20T14:39:00.000-05:00

The Bloggers: On The Ground & Keeping Us On Our Toes
http://offashion.blogspot.com/ [The soundtrack is great fun, Misslilly. Do you want to manage our music mixes?]. Review also found on Glam.com
"Stores and Boutiques I love - The Marimekko Store is a Finnish interior d??cor and fashion design store exuberant with color and natural beauty. As a lover of boutiques, I soon discovered the newly opened Marimekko-Concept store in Silver Spring, Maryland (my hometown,) and fell in love with the aesthetic tranquility of the store and merchandise. The Marimekko-Concept store in Silver Spring is owned by H&A Enterprises LLC an independent retailer of Marimekko that recruits interior and fashion designers to create the merchandise that is sold with the Marimekko concept in mind. Marimekko itself has its main stores in Finland, Sweden and Germany. It also has four stores in the United States and many other store locations in exotic places abroad. Some retailers and boutiques such as Crate&Barrel carry the Marimekko brand in their stores. The theme of the store is based on different floral and fruit design patterns; but also boasts ingenuity in using simple, yet fashionable prints. As well as having a boutique on Georgia Avenue in Silver Spring, you can shop online and view their complete Spring 2007 collection. I have posted part of the Spring Collection and some of their merchandise for review on my blog "Of Fashion" at http://offashion.blogspot.com. I also encourage you to visit the store whenever you are in the D.C. Metro Area. You can visit their websites and blog: www.marimekko.com www.marimekkowashingtondc.com www.marimekkodc.blogspot.com"

Marimekko Fashion - It's Not (Only) Your Mother's Tasaraita

2007-01-15T18:58:00.000-05:00

Hallmarks of Finnish Design: Where The Past Is Present and the Present is Fresh

Source: The Washington Post Online, By Lucian Perkins, June 2005

Marimekko Concept - It's All Under One Roof

2007-01-05T18:33:00.000-05:00

“The Marimekko Corporation in Finland not only sparked a revolution in pattern making but also pioneered a new definition of fashion that embraced the entire home environment.” From Marimekko: Fabrics ~ Fashion ~ Architecture, 2003, Marianne Aav, Ed.

Marimekko Concept Stores differ from other shops that sell Marimekko or Marimekko licensed products. Concept Stores feature Marimekko exclusively, and they represent both their continuing classic and seasonally-rotating interior decoration, clothing, and accessory products. Concept Stores also lead in the presentation of fabrics and ready-made products that feature the textiles and designs of Marimekko pioneers (think Maija Isola, Annika Rimala, and Vuokko Nurmesniemi) alongside the work of the award-winning "young designers" (witness Maija Louekari, Samu-Jussi Koski, and Anna Ervammaa). Together, Marimekko continues a 50+ year legacy of identifying and presenting the work of artists whose talent, taken together, enhances the rich history that distinguishes the Marimekko brand. U.S. Concept Stores are located in Cambridge, Miami, and, now, . . . DC.

It's Time - Marimekko Washington DC Region

2007-01-03T12:30:00.000-05:00

Monday - Saturday 11 am - 9 pm
Sunday 11 am - 5 pm
8519 Georgia Avenue
The Corner of Georgia and Ellsworth Avenues
Directly Across from the Discovery Headquarters
Downtown Silver Spring, MD 20910
301-565-4705
MarimekkoWashingtonDC.com

We loved it in the sixties, straight through the seventies, and here it is - a new millenium, and it's still more than a cut above. The first Washington, DC area Marimekko® Concept Store, located in Downtown Silver Spring Maryland, is a place to browse and shop for items of distinction, and it also serves as source to cultivate a lifestyle look and feel that conveys a sense of depth, quality, and individuality.

The Downtown Silver Spring Marimekko® is stocked with both the Marimekko® of Finland continuing classics as well as the seasonal European fashion and accessory collections for men, women, and children. It features well over 100 of their trademark fabrics in addition to a comprehensive presentation of Marimekko® home fashions, handbags, and accessories. The store also offers tailoring, made-to-order home furnishings, and interior design services. Since its inception in 1951 Marimekko® has built a lifestyle brand that both preserves its historical roots and internationally recognizable patterns while embracing the work of young designers of distinction.
______________________

Like A Good Neighbor

2006-08-02T18:19:00.000-04:00

Get up, get up, do something . . . www.downtownsilverspring.com . . . The first of the Marimekko Washington, DC area Concept Stores is opening this April [that would be 2007!). You'll find us at directly across from the Discovery Headquarters, at the corner of Georgia and Ellsworth Avenues in Downtown Silver Spring. Follow your nose to CakeLove and keep your eye out for the AFI and you've found us.

Not Your Average Company: Framing Design Within Its Historical Context

2006-06-01T19:55:00.000-04:00

All families have their ups and downs. But the lucky ones stay strong out of shared values, acceptance of change, and the history that ties them across generations. So what's this got to do with a store? Because it matters to us that Marimekko has history, has founding principles, and has Kirsti Paakkanen as its current president, someone who is more-than-ably fulfilling founder Armi Ratia's belief in the "Marimekko lifestyle."

The Principles and Evolution of "A Different Kind of Company"

Since its inception in 1951 Marimekko has built a brand that both preserves its historical roots and internationally recognizable patterns while embracing the work of younger designers of distinction.

Finnish design - which was defined by the International Triennales of 1951 and 1954 - gained momentum in the aftermath of World War II in part as a response to the grey hues (and general bleakness) that dominated wartime Finland. The company was founded by Armi and Viljo Ratia, whose factory used hand silk-screen printing techniques. While fabric production is now in large part automated, the company's production processes absolutely preserve the hand-crafted quality for which the company is known. Under the direction of Ratia, Marimekko turned its back on florals* and figurative patterns, opting to build a collection based on the abstract graphic designs of artists from the Ateneum School of Art. Among those plucked from Ateneum were Maija Isola for interior textiles, and Vuokko Eskolin-Nurmesniemi for printed designs, including clothing.

Marimekko's textile patterns reflect Finland's seasons and landscape and a more general Scandinavian appreciation for nature. Their patterns also strongly reflect the boldness and saturated colors associated with contemporary graphics and modernity. The designs of the 1950's included simple, small stripes and black and white nature-inspired graphic prints; the 60's featured op-art and oversized flowers; variations on early designs using different shades and scales prevailed during the next two decades. It was, principally, the introduction of Fujiwo Ishimoto's prints and Jukka Rintala 's clothing in the early '90s, that initiated a renewed sense of energy and vigor.

While starting with simple dresses to highlight the varying uses of fabric, the vision of its founder was never that of a fashion house. She stood for a lifestyle that reflected both her interpretation of the "ideal society" and her own fervently-held sensibilities. [In one interview, Armi Ratia stated that she did not like ". . . hats, corsets. There is almost no more bra or even pants--no elegant woman will wear stockings, perhaps even no shoes.] "The world changes quickly, and this is expression of the new society."

Family ownership ended in 1985. After a period of marked by a need for repositioning, a company owned by Kirsti Paakkanen (Workidea Oy) acquired Marimekko. Paakkanen has since expanded and, some would assert, revived the brand. She has enabled Marimekko to reach a world-wide audience yet ever mindful of the company's founding principles and the import of preserving Marimekko's identity, even while adding innovations. Simply put, the company's innovations and instantly and permanently recognizable print designs are, in and of themselves, one of the perpetuating hallmarks of modernity. Its lifestyle concept that emphasized simplicity, comfort, and timelessness is perpetuated - and ever relevant - to this day.

*Worth a note: while Armi Ratia had turned her back on florals, Maija Isola, ever independent, still designed the Unikko flower - bold and fresh in accordance with Ratia's vision, but an interpretation of floral design nonetheless.

Source: Marimekko Within Its Historical Context, By Marni Frankel, President & CEO, Honfleur Home, LLC and H&A Enterprises, LLC, February 2007

Moments Along The Long & Winding Road

2006-05-02T00:15:00.000-04:00

[At right: Kyle McGowan, IT Director & graphic artist extraodinaire; Angie Baker, Senior Buyer and Vendor Relations Manager.]