The Marimekko boutique in SoHo, New York City
Finnish design house Marimekko is known for many things—bold, colorful patterns, their collaborations with brands like adidas, IKEA, and Uniqlo, and for their new retail space that is opening today in New York City.
The new Marimekko store opens in the city’s SoHo district at 97 Wooster Street, the hub of fashion in downtown Manhattan.
It signals a new era for Marimekko, who closed their New York flagship in 2021 (their lease ended, and they wanted to relocate to another New York space).
“We believe, that Marimekko’s mission to bring joy to people’s everyday lives is now more meaningful than ever,” said Tiina Alahuhta-Kasko, Marimekko’s president and CEO in a statement. “Timeless and sustainable design thinking has been in our DNA since the beginning.”
Inside Marimekko’s new SoHo boutique
The new SoHo boutique is what you would expect from a Scandinavian design brand—a minimal, airy, studio-like space inspired by the industrial architecture of their Helsinki-based printing factory. There’s lots of pastels, wood and impeccable clothing and design objects, including colorful fashion attire, accessories, bags, and home décor.
“Marimekko’s new store in New York is an ever-evolving concept that has been designed to be rediscovered over and over again,” said Rebekka Bay, Marimekko’s creative director.
Inside the Marimekko boutique in SoHo
“Marimekko has always walked its own path in the boundaries between fashion, design, art, and architecture. Our new store aims to create a dialogue with New York, its inhabitants and creative culture.”
Marimekko’s latest homeware collection includes the Oiva teapot made of brown stoneware, their whimsical Seireeni bedspread, and their Peini Tiiliskivi apron in a blue brick print.
Their patterned dresses bring a vintage touch to womenswear, like their Laineilla Savanni dress, their Eloisasti Koukero wool vest, and their Sif Unikko wool cardigan.
The brand was first founded in 1951, and has been worn by Jacqueline Kennedy, Sarah Jessica Parker, Emmy Rossum and Elton John. co-founded by a couple, Viljo Ratia and his wife Armi Ratia, who would commission young artists to design new patterns for the company’s fabric prints.
Their longest running classic fashion item, which is still in production, is the Jokapoika shirt, a collared, long sleeve shirt in black and white stripes. Their most popular print is their Unikko, their floral poppy print in pink, orange, and red.
“I believe that Marimekko, as a lifestyle brand and in expression, is as relevant today as it was 70 years ago,” said Bay. “Marimekko is a joyful, timeless, and global lifestyle brand, and SoHo is a perfect fit.”
Marimekko