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Go to shop26 September 2025
The Artek + Marimekko collection celebrates Artek’s 90th anniversary with a collaboration that pairs Maija Isola’s graphic patterns with the pure lines of Alvar Aalto’s furniture. A story of design, culture, and shared values.
A celebration of shared identities
The Artek + Marimekko collection marks the 90th anniversary and the meeting of two narratives that helped define Finland’s cultural landscape. On one side, the functional clarity of Alvar Aalto’s furniture; on the other, the bold visual language of Maija Isola’s prints for Marimekko. Together they create a dialogue grounded in shared principles: accessible design, a close bond with nature, and a timeless relevance that transcends generations.
Between past and present
Three of Aalto’s essential designs—the Stool 60, Bench 153B, and Table 90D—return at the center of this special edition. The chosen patterns—Lokki, Kivet, and Seireeni—are reinterpreted through marquetry in Finnish birch veneer. Contrasting grains bring the motifs to life, shifting with the light to create a uniquely tactile and visual experience.
At the heart of this collaboration lies craftsmanship. Rather than being printed or applied, Isola’s iconic designs are recreated through an intricate inlay technique. As Artek explains, “by using marquetry on veneered surfaces, the patterns come alive, interacting with light and movement.”
This approach not only emphasizes artistry but also reflects the brands’ commitment to responsible design: minimizing wood waste while working exclusively with certified materials.
While Maija Isola’s patterns were originally defined by bold, vivid color, this collection introduces an entirely new interpretation. Rendered in the natural tones of Finnish birch, the designs emerge as part of the material itself rather than a surface decoration.
The effect is subtle yet striking: a visual language where patterns shift and transform as light moves across them. Each piece becomes a multisensory experience—inviting both sight and touch. This reinterpretation captures the essence of the Artek + Marimekko collaboration: renewing Finland’s design heritage for today while staying true to its core values of authenticity and durability.
A continuing conversation
The Artek + Marimekko collection is both a tribute to the past and a vision for the future, showing how design can serve as function, beauty, memory, and cultural dialogue.
This sentiment is underscored by a letter that Armi Ratia, Marimekko’s founder, wrote to Alvar Aalto in September 1975. Personal and unadorned, it reads like a bridge between two visions:
“My revered Alvar Aalto,
On Alvar’s name day, I feel like sending you our sponsored Klami album.
Once upon a time I was too shy to ask you to draw me a house. Now it is financially difficult again.
I will always be proud of you here in Finland and also in the rest of the world.
Sincerely yours,
Armi Ratia”
These simple words remind us that design is never just about form or material—it is also about affinity, respect, and shared values. With the new Artek + Marimekko collection, that spirit continues, honoring Artek’s ninety years with a project that bridges memory and innovation, tradition and future.
