The Upper East Side Informer

Is it Japanese? Swedish? Danish? This is a common question customers ask themselves as they browse the shelves of the vibrant Upper East Side store – Marimekko. Do not let the name confuse you, however. Marimekko is a staple and proud national treasure of Finland. As an Upper East Sider with Finnish roots, I hold a special place in my heart for this bold and beautiful textile, clothing, and home goods store. As the only Marimekko store in New York, and one of the few in the United States, we are lucky to have a neighborhood outlet to unleash our inner Finn.

While many Upper East Siders admire Marimekko for its quality of clothing, array of modern textiles, and practical home goods – there is another important reason locals should be lucky to have a foreign gem in our neighborhood. When Armi Ratia (1912-1979) began to commission young artists to design fabrics in 1951 with her husband’s textile firm, people admired the boldly colored prints, yet did not know how to use them in everyday life. In order to demonstrate the use of these new fabrics, a small collection of clothing was put together for a fashion show. The effervescent colors and fresh styles gave new life to Finland as people were still recovering from the somber and gray post-war years.

The Marimekko mission is to give people hope and joy by making everyday life beautiful. As New Yorkers, we know all too well that the hustle and bustle of the city can be overwhelming. But the moment you step into this Finnish wonderland on the Upper East Side, the colors will transport you to a place of nature, dreams, and memories and you will leave the noise of the city outside.

Now that New York’s tough winter weather is almost behind us, there is no better way to jump into springtime than with a trip to Marimekko. Starting this Friday, March 12, New Yorkers will have a once in a lifetime opportunity to indulge in a “Spring Cleaning” sale with items up to 70% off including clothing, home and bath items, kitchen ware, shoes, bags, and more! All Marimekko aficionados should travel to the Upper East Side and take advantage of this incredible sale until March 22.

How will you express your inner Finn this season?!

Visit Marimekko at 1262 Third Avenue between 72nd and 73rd Street or on the web at http://www.kiitosmarimekko.com