Crafting Joy

We chat with Marimekko's Minna Kemell-Kutvonen at the brand's pop-up cafe about celebrating heritage, what makes Finnish design unique, and the future of prints in the digital world

- Asih Jenie

Founded in 1951 in Helsinki, Marimekko has evolved from a fashion label known for its exuberantly printed dresses to a lifestyle brand whose library of 3,500 (and counting) patterns has graced practically everything one can wear or own in one's home. In Singapore, some of its fashion and home offerings are available at its Ion Orchard boutique. But perhaps Marimekko is better known locally for its collaborative collections with Uniqlo and Ikea, which have infused the city-state with joy and colour, rain or shine.

This year, Marimekko celebrates the 60th anniversary of one of its most popular prints, Unikko. Brand founder Armi Ratia once believed it was not possible to capture the true essence of real flowers in prints, which explains the absence of floral patterns in Marimekko's early collections. Created by Finnish artist Maija Isola in 1964, the Unikko print represents a bold abstraction of flowers that is far from photorealistic, but nonetheless has captured the hearts of consumers worldwide.

At Milan Design Week 2024, Marimekko collaborated with Apartamento magazine for Bar Unikko, a pop-up cafe that saw a corner eatery at Via Stoppani dressed floor-to-awning in Unikko.