Arts & Culture

 I trekked through the snow recently to the Textile Museum of Canada to see
"Marimekko, With Love," a retrospective look at the famed Finnish design
company.  When I went inside the museum, I was greeted to an
atmosphere of fresh air and springtime with cheerful Marimekko fabric,
clothing and artifacts, on display there until April 21. 

Founded by Armi Ratia and her husband Viljo in 1951 in Helsinki,
Finland, Marimekko uniquely integrated design, manufacturing, and
marketing.  The Toronto Star said the company's focus was on "style,
creative living and bright patterns in a society recovering from the
Second World War."  The designs still radiate positivity.  Particularly
striking is the flower power of Marimekko's most famous textile design,
Unikko ("poppy" in Finnish).  Designed in 1964 by Marimekko's textile
designer Maija Isola, Unikko is still popular and available today, and it has
found its way onto sneakers, a beanbag chair, a car, and even an airplane!

When First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy wore a Marimekko dress designed by
Vuokko Eskolin-Nurmesniemi on the cover of the December 26, 1960 issue
of Sports Illustrated, it brought Marimekko to the forefront of the American
fashion press and public.  Marimekko was brought to Canada by architect,
interior and industrial designer Janis Kravis.  His store at 67 Front Street East
in Toronto was named Karelia, after the historic Finnish region and
Armi Ratia's birthplace.  I was intrigued by the Marimekko fabric-on-board
advertising posters for the store, which had been used on the TTC from
1970 to 1979.  I thought the slogan on them, "art by the yard from karelia
67 front street east," was brilliant.

Evident everywhere in the exhibition is the Finnish love of nature, from
their designs, to their use of cotton and wool, to their advertising campaigns. 
A fascinating Marimekko promotional film from 1967 depicts Marimekko
clothing in many different settings, from the countryside to the office, as well
as showing Marimekko's design and manufacturing process.

"There must be a reason to dirt a fine white cloth with print." reads a quote
on the wall from Armi Ratia.  Thankfully Marimekko had and still has a lot of
reasons to print on cloth.  If you are interested in this process, you might
be inspired by 1960s Fashion Prints, and find practical tips in Mastering the
Art of Fabric Printing and Design and Fabric Surface Design.

You can enjoy visiting the Textile Museum of Canada and this exhibition
for free, with a Sun Life Financial Museum + Arts Pass.  During March Break
this year, there will be free hands-on activities for children 5 and up,
accompanied by an adult.  To get to the museum, I took the subway
to St. Patrick station, walked east along Dundas Street for one block, and
then turned south onto Centre Avenue and continued to the museum, which
is on the east side, at 55 Centre Avenue.  Coincidentally, the museum
is not too far from City Hall, the work of another famous Finn, the architect
Viljo Revell!