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A mighty Finnish design era came out of the rubble of WWII and was granted decisive impetus by the International Triennial's of 1951 and 1954 which clearly set up the concept of Finnish design. By officially blending design into production, materials from Marimekko (marimekko tyger) had achieved international consideration with their distinguishing of a select market receptive to the large Finnish design look.

Marrimekko was founded by Armi and Viljo Ratia in 1951 and has since established a reputation for producing quality textiles for home furnishings and clothing. The Finland-based company actually began in 1949 by acquiring Printex Oy-an oilcloth factory in the suburbs of Helsinki. After a refit, the factory reintroduced the craft-based technique of hand silk-screen printing on cotton sheeting.

The methods, recognized by resulting irregularities and repeats lines, and brought a very human feel to every design. Though production methods were mechanized a long while ago, the company still maintains hand-crafted quality in printing. Its use of decorative designs and natural fibers only strengthened its commitment to the Scandinavians' affinity for nature.

Under the design leadership of Armi, the company pulled away from traditional Finnish textile designers and began to use a variety of nonfigurative patterns, utilizing abstract graphic designs of their artist colleagues. The original assemblage of simply cut dresses, put out in 1951 in Helsinki began as a promotional conveyance for their printed cotton fabrics.

Simple wrap dresses and plain styles that buttoned down the bodice were included, putting the focus squarely on the cloth instead of on the apparel's designs. This line was dubbed Marimekko (or Mary's little pinafore dress). Since that time, the company has licensed various foreign firms from 1968 on in order to extend its merchandise to encompass tablecloths and dinner napkins, bed linens, serving ware, dish ware, glassware, furniture (möbler) and other home furnishings, area rugs, and wallpaper.

By the end of the 20th century, Marimekko had engineered a major comeback in the U.S., with fabric and interior design, wall coverings (marimekko tapet), bed linens, rugs and much more available to American buyers through a series of licenses. Though not as well known in America as many other textiles firms, Marimeko’s bold, simple, classic print designs and characteristic use of color have established a permanently recognizable and highly individualistic identity that remains to this day.

By formally integrating design into manufacturing, textiles from Marimekko acquired international attention through their identification of an exclusive market responsive to the strong Finnish design aesthetic. Wraparound and front-buttoned garments were included, accentuating the textiles rather than the styling of the garments. "Maria's little dress" expanded into home furnishing textiles (marimekko textil), with overseas licensing agreements (initiated in 1968) for wall coverings, bedding (marimekko duvet), decorative fabrics, paper products, table linens, kitchenware, furniture (möbler), ceramics, glassware (marimekko glas), and rugs.