Established during the golden age of post-war modernism, Marimekko is the Finnish textile and fashion company that achieved international fame in the 1960s and 1970s with its bold screen prints and Pop Art-style graphics. Coinciding with the emerging liberation of women, the founding of Marimekko, represented a pure concept; free from rules and constraints. 

The name of the company derives from the woman’s name ‘Mari’ (or Mary) and the word ‘mekko’, meaning dress. The term itself alludes to the primary motivation behind the establishment of the company - to make dresses for everyday women. Through close collaboration with artists and designers, Marimekko has grown to represent so much more and has expanded its offerings to include a wide variety of products and designs.

When Marimekko was founded in 1951, the ready-to-wear garment industry was a relatively small sector in Finland, but over the following decades, ready-to-wear grew to become an important player. Ultimately, Marimekko became the most successful brand of the period and its meteoric rise to the international scene is without parallel in the history of Finnish textile design.

This exhibition traces Marimekko’s rise from the 1950s to the present and explores the dualities that define its aesthetic. Its iconic fabric patterns and unconventional ready-to-wear outfits brought colour and informality to an otherwise self-conscious fashion world. With more than 60 outfits, swathes of original fabrics, homewares, sketches and other archival materials, the exhibition focuses on the work of the talented individuals who defined this local textile practice and created its internationally recognisable designs.

To coincide with the exhibition the gallery is presenting a range of wonderful programs and events including:

Tansy Curtin curatorial manager Bendigo Art Gallery