Internationally beloved Finnish design brand Marimekko’s iconic patterns grace home décor, apparel, and accessories, and have informed and influenced tastemakers worldwide for over half a century. Richly illustrated with photographs and prints both classic and new, this vibrant volume (launching along with covetable notebooks and postcards) offers a behind-the-scenes tour of the brand’s creative process. A colorful legacy is revealed, along with the innovative creators—from 1950s pioneers to twenty-first-century masters—who have shaped the company’s heritage and continue to make visual magic today. Rare sketchbook pages, in-depth looks at particular eras, and page after page of gorgeous designs make this a book sure to enchant anyone interested in fashion, art, or the patterned and color-drenched world of Marimekko.
A well-designed and structured book that puts the bulk of its pages towards showcasing the patterns, which is what I’m here for (unlike the Liberty book I read earlier this year). It includes profiles of designers, a description of the design process, selections of fashion made with the fabric from many eras, and a history of the company.
I appreciate that each pattern lists its designer and year, and thought it was a smart design choice to display them as they are on the roll of fabric. Although there’s a huge range in the type of patterns they make — graphic, geometric, hand drawn, monochromatic, rainbow — for the most part they all feel like they belong together. Their philosophy, apparently, is “empowering contradictions.”
They seem to have a well-spread sampling across the years (though there were a surprising number that I really disliked). Some patterns feel very of their time, which makes sense that decorative elements might be tightly synced to the aesthetic of the era. Interestingly, my favorites are mostly from the 2000s.
