Today sees the launch of a very special collaboration, and one that I’ve been bursting to tell you about since I first saw it at this year’s 3daysofdesign, Artek + Marimekko.
Forming part of their 90th anniversary celebrations, this limited-edition collection sees the legendary design brand join forces for first time with their fellow Finns, to reimagine six instantly recognisable Alvar Aalto pieces all adorned with the much-loved fashion house’s striking patterns.
Established in 1935 by Alvar and Aino Aalto, with collaborators Maire Gullichsen and Nils-Gustav Hahl, Artek set out to break with tradition, and promote a new kind of living that merged art and technology together into functional, elegant design.
Marimekko meanwhile, who was founded in 1951 by Viljo and Armi Ratia was, from the outset on a mission to bring joy into people’s everyday lives, adorning everything they could from clothing and bags to home textiles and dinnerware in their bold, graphic prints.
Comprising of three editions of the ‘Stool 60’ (a piece that has been at the top of my wish list for far too long), two editions of the ‘Bench 153B’ as well as one edition of the ‘Table 90D’, the entire Artek + Marimekko collection is unlike any other. Manufactured in Artek’s factory in Turku from responsibly sourced Finnish birchwood, the veneer of each piece is then meticulously laser cut by skilled craftspeople before being assembled by hand with the grain running in different directions.
Seen from one angle the veneer surface actually appears almost untouched at first, but as soon as it catches the light the playful shapes of Maija Isola’s ‘Arkkitehti’ series fully emerge whether its ‘Kivet’, that recalls the rough-edged stones surrounding her home, ‘Lokki’which draws its inspiration from the wavelike shadows she watched falling across a drawn curtain, or ‘Seireeni’, which mimics the movements of water seen during her travels in Greece.
Celebrating the qualities that unites both brands, as well as a fitting tribute to Finnish design’s timeless and fearless approach, whichever piece you choose from the Artek + Marimekko collection you can be sure it will be something to cherish for a very long time, as well as bring a touch of Nordic design history to your home.
The Artek + Marimekko collection is available now to buy now only until the end of 2025 at both Artek and Marimekko physical and online stores, as well as at a select number of retailers worldwide.
All images courtesy of Artek.
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