Interior designs: Focus/23 at Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour, London - 18-22 September

Focus/23  is slated for 18-22 September 2023 at the Design Centre in London's Chelsea Harbour.  It  is billed as the ultimate international design and decoration show, brimming with creative ideas, inspiration and insights. 

Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour

Design enthusiasts and trade professionals will discover the latest autumn/winter launches and hear from the best in the business.  

Over five days, the centre will feature some 120 showrooms, many new arrivals opening in time for the event, as well as pop-up House Guests, along with a line-up of world-class brands, talented makers, creatives and thought leaders who will shape the future of interiors in the months to come. 

Organisers say Focus/23 presents a friendly, lively environment and visitors will be able to experience the energy and excitement of the new collections that will take interiors in a new direction. 

One of the showroom talk events at Focus/22

An international roster of names alongside a galaxy of showroom experts, talks, tours, workshops and demonstrations all add up to a compelling programme of a hundred events, spearheaded by the renowned main stage talks series, Conversations in Design.  It offers in-depth interviews and panel discussions with star names, while Grow Your Business sessions provide professional insights on how to keep competitive and connected. 

Focus/22

There are also free events in the Access All Areas schedule to enjoy in and around the showrooms, from hands-on demonstrations, meet the designer sessions to the debut of creative collaborations. Daily design discovery tours will give visitors the inside track on the most talked-about products at the show. 

This season, autumn/winter 2023, expect plenty of artful brights and joyful patterns, tactile materials and outstanding craftsmanship from established names and rising stars, gathered together to share their stories and design vision.

The design directions are embracing vibrant tones in the form of playful colour pops and savannah sunsets. Certain design hallmarks from the past are also making a return: there’s a new-found interest in deco details, the charm of country house redux and the homespun simplicity of Americana, alongside the primitive shapes and authentic textures of studio ceramics, while comfort, wellbeing and relaxation will be at the forefront of our design decisions.

Highlights include collaborations with international tastemakers such as Rita Konig with Oficina Inglesa Furniture, Barry Dixon with Arteriors and Mary McDonald with Schumacher, alongside furniture by Estudio Persona for Pierre Frey and Studiopepe for Visionnaire.

Focus/22

As the Design Centre is established as a design hub, this autumn there are new showrooms opening, and existing ones expanding or relocating, say the organisers, and new arrivals include Osborne & Little, Crucial Trading, Forbes & Lomax, Loom Furniture, Tigermoth Lighting and Siminetti, while Arteriors and Phillip Jeffries have larger showrooms to explore.

Adding another layer, pop-up House Guests in situ in the Design Avenue, will offer more ways for visitors to encounter world-class talent. A roster of renowned design names includes Holly Hunt, Rupert Bevan, Sterling Studios, Haines Collection, Yves Delorme, Rapture & Wright, Ochre, Corston, Fenwick and Tilbrook, Hare's Tail, Jaipur Rugs, Living Quarters, Maria Flora, Masureel International, Nichola Taylorson, Nico, Todd Knights, Trowbridge, V&Co, Batterbury and Bauldry Botanicals, with more to be announced.

All photos from Focus/22 by Lucia Carpio

Trade Exhibition: Top Drawer returns to Olympia London this September

Top Drawer is set to take place at London Olympia in Kensington from September 10-12, bringing together industry leaders, designers, retailers and trade buyers for a celebration of innovation and creativity in a wide range of products for home and lifestyle, as well as gifts, stationery, fashion accessories.

The event is also continuing their partnership with The Giftware Association this September which will be showcasing the winners of the Gift Of The Year Awards on stand 220 from the 2023 competition.

Trade visitors and attendees can expect to be inspired by a diverse range of gift item across 20 categories including Home Fragrance, Kitchen and Dining and Food and Drink.

Visitors at Top Drawer SS23

Chris Workman, PR & Marketing Manager of Gift of the Year, said it will be an opportunity for attendees to explore the latest trends, and discover unique products and brands. "It also allows buyers to purchase from us at the show, and we will send those orders back to the companies, creating an extra funnel for sales", said Workman.

Also to be featured at this autumn's Top Drawer is a line-up of talks, discussions and masterclasses held under Retailfest for visitors to engage with industry experts, and to gain valuable insights, innovative strategies, and actionable advice to ensure that help their business better equipped to thrive in the upcoming year and tackle any potential economic shifts and challenges.

Among the topics to be covered, London fashion designer Amanda Wakeley will host FOUNDER STORIES - From Dream To Success, in which she will share insights on her route to success and the art of confident entrepreneurship for indie business retailers.

Mary Wallace, a Retail Experience Consultant and member of IBM's metaverse team, will present a conversation-style session to provide practical steps for retailers to enhance their websites and bring their products to life in the immersive world of Web 3.0.

Alice Loveday, Founder Loveday Social @loveday.social, will host a workshop session to give insights into creating stop motion content to boost sales on social media channels and digital marketing, and enhance retailers' online presence to drive sales.

Ami Rabheru, Founder of Retail Huddle and guests will delve into the potential of pop-up shops for online brands, as consumer behaviour continues to evolve and online customer acquisition becomes increasingly challenging.

Top Drawer will also host an exclusive session in partnership with Google, to provide insights on integrating a social media strategy into your business plan for 2023. This masterclass is designed for retailers and brand owners seeking to build an effective digital strategy and capitalise on the available digital marketing channels to achieve their business objectives. In this session, expert partners from Google will guide attendees through the fundamentals of building a robust digital marketing strategy tailored to your business. 

For full details of the RetailFest line-up of talks and events, click HERE. 

Exhibition:"Yevonde: Life and Colour" presents a pioneering London photographer; a woman breaking new ground

Presently on display at the recently re-opened National Portrait Gallery# in London until October 15th 2023, "Yevonde: Life and Colour" stands as a tribute to creative photography as well as to women who triumph in their professional developments, and deeply value their artistic freedoms.  

Visitors to the exhibition are greeted with 
a giant mural of the London photographer, Yevonde.
This self-portrait features Yevonde with the huge 
studio camera from her first studio at
92 Victoria Street, to number 100, then to
28 Berkeley Square in 1933.

Guiding spectators through a journey to delve into the life and trajectory of Yevonne, the trailblazing London photographer who pioneered the utilisation of colour photography during the 1930s, the exhibit narrates the tale of a woman who harnessed freedom through her photographic artistry. The exhibition illustrated that she fearlessly ventured into uncharted realms, reshaping the landscape of portrait photography.

Bolstered by The CHANEL Culture Fund, this exhibition builds upon "Reframing Narratives: Women in Portraiture," a significant collaborative endeavor aimed at enriching the representation of women within the Gallery's esteemed Collection.

A self-portrait shows the photographer in a stylish ensemble illustrating her interest in fashion.

Encompassing portraits and still-life compositions spanning Yevonde's vibrant six-decade career, the exhibition draws inspiration from her body of work archived by the Gallery in 2021, along with extensive new insights gleaned through the dedicated research efforts of the Gallery's teams.

Madame Yevonde was born Yevonde Cumbers on January 5, 1893, in Streatham, London. Her privileged upbringing in an affluent family provided her with the means to pursue her artistic and photographic passions, setting the stage for her creative journey.

Yevonde's modernist double portraits were her way to celebrate women's greater freedom and independence following the passing of the right of women to vote over the age of 21 in 1928.

Yevonde's career began in the early 1910s, during which time she established herself as a talented portrait photographer.  Her work were characterized by their artistic composition, attention to detail, and the ability to capture the essence of her sitters. 

Lord Louis Mountbatten and his wife, the heiress Edwina

The Indian princess Krishna

It was during the 1920s and 1930s that Yevonde began her experiments with colour photography. Her pioneering work in this area further solidified her reputation and set her apart from other photographers of her time. 

In an era dominated by black-and-white photography, Yevonde used the "Vivex" process that allowed her to create vibrant and distinctive colour portraits that showcased her technical and artistic prowess.

The Vivex process* involved the use of coloured filters to expose three separate black-and-white negatives. Each negative was captured through a different coloured filter—red, green, and blue - which represented the primary colors of light, were then combined to create a single full-color image. 

A short video in the final segment of the exhibition demonstrates the Vivex process.  To create a final colour print, the three negatives were projected through the corresponding coloured filters onto a piece of sensitized paper, which was then developed to produce a full-colour photograph. 

The Vivex process required precision and skill in exposing and aligning the negatives to ensure accurate colour rendition in the final print.

The couture designer Norman Hartnell

Yevonde was a favoured photographer among high society circles. Her portfolio encompassed royalty, socialites, prominent figures, and celebrated screen personalities.  

Margaret Sweeny (Whigham, later Duchess of Argyll) for The Sketch magazine.
Note the "flame-coloured feather fans of her dress" designed by Ana de Pombo for Paquin.

Some of her notable subjects included in the exhhibition were those of Lord Louis Mountbatten and his wife, the heiress Edwina; Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester; the couture designer Norman Hartnell; the last reigning Maharani of Jodhpur, the Indian princess Krishna; the actress Vivien Leigh who famously played Scarlett O-Hara in Gone with the Wind, to name but a few.

The actress Vivien Leigh 

Her unique approach to engaging with her subjects allowed her to delve beyond appearances and capture the essence of their personas, rendering her portraits more than mere visual records.

Among her renowned works is the "Goddesses" series from the early 1930s as shown above. This collection featured influential women of the era – socialites, actresses, and aristocrats – adorned in elaborate costumes that channeled various mythological goddesses. These portraits, visually stunning and symbolically potent, underscored female empowerment and societal roles.

While Yevonde's sitters were predominantly women, she named the Irish writer George Bernard Shaw as one of her favourite sitters.  

Yevonde's dynamic photographic style made her a sought-after contributor to magazines, particularly the Sketch and the Bystander, during the zenith of her career in the 1920s and 1930s. While collaborating with publications, she remained dedicated to her independent artistic pursuits and exhibited her works in galleries. 

As a career woman, Yevonde would picture women in traditional gender and marital roles with unusual surrealistic settings and props as a way to ignite and inspire young women who aspire to lead purposeful and fulfilling lives. 

She harnessed the artifice of embellishment and flawlessness to convey a compelling and influential message, igniting inspiration among young women aspiring to lead purposeful and satisfying lives.

One colour carbon print called Shelling Peas, for the July 1938 issue of Woman and Beauty.  In this, "Rosemary Chance" is portrayed shelling peas and smoking while dressed in a way totally unconventional for a housewife

Mrs Amy with Dog is a double profile ppeared as a variant on the cover of Woman and Beauty as wellas on an edition of Modern Photography: The Studio Annual of Camera Art.

Adele Astaire (Lady Charles Cavendish), dancer and actor during the 1920s.
This portrait of pastel-tones was published in the Sketch, featuring the sitter against a delicate painted backdrop with Chinese inspired motifs.

Apart from portraits, Yevonde also featured still life compositions using props within portraits and objects in surreal settings to inform a "visual poetry".

As a versatile and influential photographer, Yevonde's artistic pursuits extended her creativity to art and diverse mediums, such as painting and collage. This artistic background infused her photographic compositions with a painterly quality that distinguished her work.  Immersed in the intellectual and artistic circles of her time, Yevonde was associated with the Bloomsbury Group, a gathering of influential writers, thinkers, and artists. This association likely enriched her artistic perspective and propelled her creative boundaries.

Today, Yevonde's photographs are treasured as valuable historical and artistic relics, offering a window into the cultural and social tapestry of the early 20th century.

The "Yevonde: Life and Colour" exhibition stands as a tribute to her inventive photographic technique, acknowledging her significant contributions to the domain and solidifying her status as a pivotal figure in the annals of photography. Perhaps, her story could now intrigue filmmakers, serving as a captivating narrative for a movie about a trailblazing career woman. Through her artistic prowess and craft, she transformed into a societal influencer of her era.

All images of the exhibition by Lucia Carpio.

#The National Portrait Gallery has reopened in summer of 2023 following a major transformation project, the Gallery’s most extensive redevelopment since its opening in 1896.

*The Vivex process was developed by the British inventor Frederic E. Ives, an engineer and scientist known for his contributions to early photography and color reproduction. Ives is credited with pioneering various techniques and technologies related to colour photography, and the Vivex process was one of his notable achievements.

The term "Vivex" is derived from "vivid" and "exposure," indicating its goal of producing vivid and lifelike colour images. Ives first introduced the process in the early 1920s, and it gained attention for its ability to create colour photographs using additive colour principles—red, green, and blue channels—that closely resembled natural colour perception.  This process aimed to replicate the way human vision perceives colours by mimicking the additive colour mixing principle.

Trade Fair: Pure London x JATC to launch in February 2024; coinciding with Scoop London

Pure London, the fashion trade fair in the UK, has revealed its collaboration with Just Around The Corner (JATC) starting from February 2024. This partnership will give rise to "Pure London x JATC," a new venture falling within the retail division of Hyve, the parent company.

Scheduled for 11th to 13th February 2024 at Olympia London, the inaugural joint event aims to provide buyers with an enriched experience. Expect a dynamic showcase featuring an expanded array of visionary fashion designers and brands, according to the event organizers.

Pure London July 2023 at Kensington Olympia, London.
Photo: Lucia Carpio

This new collaboration aims to streamline and enhance the experience for fashion professionals, buyers, and press—both local and international. Rather than navigating between separate venues, attendees can now access both events in a single location, saving valuable time and effort compared to previous fairs. The coinciding Scoop International London fair, focused on premium fashion, will also be hosted at Olympia West within the same exhibition pavilion.

Experts within the industry view this partnership as a rising trend, where competing trade events join forces to create a more robust fair. This strategic move comes in response to the intensifying competition within the market and also addresses the economic implications stemming from the post-pandemic landscape. A similar merging trend was observed earlier this month when Copenhagen International Fashion Fair merged with the Danish fair Revolver.

The July 2023 edition of PURE London held at Olympia in Kensington showcased a more compact arrangement. In contrast, the upcoming Pure London x JATC event in February 2024 will present a meticulously curated assortment of over 300 brands, including emerging designers.

Gloria Sandrucci, the event director of Pure London x JATC, expressed in a statement that this inaugural joint fair signifies a milestone in the history of these two fashion exhibitions. The driving force behind this collaboration is the shared vision to simplify and enhance the buying experience for purchasers.

She emphasized that Pure London's mission is to evolve into Europe's most captivating and diverse fashion celebration, offering a curated selection of brands, trustworthy trend insights, transformative business prospects, all while championing sustainability. By uniting with JATC and leveraging Pure London's 25-year legacy, the combined teams can pool their expertise, resources, and networks to create the preeminent fashion trade show experience. This unified approach addresses the needs of buyers and delivers the ultimate collection of brands under the iconic roof of Olympia London, said Ms Sandrucci.

Cultural Events: The New Craftsmens’ show will feature in Brompton Design District during London Design Festival 2023

“Join, Assemble, Hold”, The New Craftsmen’s show for London Design Festival 2023, as part of Brompton Design District, will take place at Gallery 5, Cromwell Place, London, from September 16 - 24 2023, presenting two adjoining crafted interiors, rich with beautiful and tactile works that invite the makers’ worlds and hands into our homes. 

Breck Light by Studio AMOS

In each room, a statement cabinet centrepiece provides a focal point, expressing both the physicality of the works around them and a feeling of connectivity evoked by the space. 

Work in progress on the Anticuus lighting collection by Ash & Plumb
in collaboration with Louise East

The exhibition will include work by Bibbings & Hensby, Matthew Raw, Ash & Plumb, Edmond Byrne, Jochen Holz, Lulu Harrison, Max Bainbridge, Darren Appiagyei, Takahashi McGil, Alex Walshaw, Studio AMOS, Clare Revera, Rachel Frost, Michelle Mateo, Jo Hammond, Hilary Burns, Nick McMillen, Joe Hogan, Lorna Singleton, and Tim Johnson.

Brompton, a district located in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in London, is recognized for its upscale residential character, historic architecture, and its proximity to cultural institutions and attractions.   Notable sites and institutions in the district include Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A); the Natural History Museum; the Science Museum; Royal Albert Hall; and Imperial College London.

Images from Brompton Design District

Cultural Events: Shoreditch Design Triangle returns in September; coinciding with London Design Festival

The Shoreditch Design Triangle cultural event returns for its 15th consecutive year with a programme of design-led happenings that are representative of the vibrant creative scene that flourishes in the area, making it one of the key events of London Design Festival that runs from September 16 - 24, 2023.

London brand Buster + Punch unveils A Decade Of Details, celebrating the label’s landmark 10-year anniversary.
The installation is showcasing a collection of its iconic hardware, lighting, switches and functional fittings
from the past ten years.

Organisers said this is set to be a bumper year, announcing participants are ranging from leading furniture designers and brands, to the best new students in the land.

Jasper Morrison is hosting the Bamboo exhibition in their shop, illuminating the qualities of bamboo as a material for the modern world, featuring a selection of hand-crafted objects from Japan to show bamboo’s use in the household and in industry, its strength and versatility, and the skills and techniques that work it.
The shapes and patterns on display hold much to inspire the eye.

Confirmed participants include: AIDA Shoreditch; Art Practice; Buster + Punch; Christopher Farr; Donna Wilson; Established & Sons; FLOOR_STORY; Hart Shoreditch; Istituto Marangoni; Jasper Morrison Shop; Kingston School of Art; Lee Broom; London Green Wood; Lozi; Possible Mirror; SCP; SOAR Running; Solid Floor; Studio Tucktite; Surface Matter; Tala; The House by M.A.H; TOAST; Townhouse Spitalfields and Vitra.

There will be a line-up events hosted by 38 local businesses for London Design Festival 2023, from both established brands and newcomers present in the area.

SCP is hosting Soft Power, a show of sustainable design and enduring ideas., and launching the SCP 2023 Upholstery Collection with designs by Philippe Malouin, Wilkinson & Rivera, Donna Wilson, Matthew Hilton, Terence Woodgate, and SCP Editions by Sarah Kay and Oscar Coakley. Also: John Pawson for Wonderglass, lighting from Roll & Hill, and Sons of Beasley by Clerkin & Hellum.

The full programme will be available online. #ShoreditchDT #SDT23

To mark the launch of a new rug by Bauhaus Master Gunta Stölzl, Christopher Farr have joined forces with Turkish weaving workshop Kirkit, collaborating on a creative weaving project, celebrating freedom of expression. Kirkit are raising the bar for weaver welfare, setting a new industry standard and future proofing Turkish weaving.

Shoreditch Design Triangle celebrates the creative industry in east London. It was established in 2008 as a vehicle for the designers, companies and institutions situated in the area to collaborate on the promotion of their activities during the London Design Festival, and at other key periods in the year. 

Shoreditch's transformation from historically a working-class and industrial area to a hub of creativity, culture and innovation, can be traced back to the 1990s when artists, musicians, and creative entrepreneurs began to move into the area, attracted by its affordable rents and industrial spaces. This influx of creative individuals laid the groundwork for the neighborhood's transition into a creative and design-focused community.

As Shoreditch gained popularity among creative professionals and entrepreneurs, it started to undergo a process of gentrification. Abandoned warehouses, factories, and Victorian buildings were repurposed into art galleries, studios, co-working spaces, and fashionable boutiques. This regeneration brought about a mix of new businesses, residents, and visitors, reshaping the neighborhood's identity.

As a result of the influx of creative minds, the neighborhood became known for its avant-garde art galleries, cutting-edge fashion boutiques, and innovative architectural projects. The diverse range of design disciplines found in Shoreditch includes graphic design, industrial design, fashion design, digital media, and more.

The neighborhood's fusion of creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship has influenced other parts of London and even other global cities seeking to cultivate similar creative hubs.

Today, Shoreditch's design scene continues to evolve and inspire, making it a dynamic and influential part of London's cultural fabric.

All images from Shoreditch Design Triangle.

Exhibition: Offbeat Sari Exhibition at Design Museum gives insight into its evolution and transformation in recent years

Long been a national costume for special occasions, the Indian Sari, often spelled as "saree," is a traditional garment formed by a long piece of cloth, typically ranging from 5 to 9 meters in length, that is unstitched and draped around the body in various ways to form a graceful ensemble.  

Conventionally its non-conforming fluid form allows the wearer to reflect their own personality and creativity as well as social status through the use of different fabrics and textures.  Historically and traditionally worn by both men and women, the Sari has deep cultural significance in India and has been an integral part of country's national clothing for centuries. 

Reflecting India's rich history as well as the diversity and complexity of Indian culture, the origins of Sari can be traced back to ancient India, with references in historical texts and sculptures dating as far back as 100 BC. 

To gain insight into how the sari has evolved and adapted, the Design Museum in Kensington London is running "The Offbeat Sari" Exhibition until September 17th 2023 taking visitors on a journey to explore how this Indian traditional garment has evolved through time and gradually transformed into a more elaborate and elegant garment.

The exhibition is segmented into three main parts: Transformation, Identity and Resistance, and Materials, explaining how contemporary designers and wearers have reimagined the Indian costume, playing with the fabric to create more contemporary styles.   

According to the Design Museum's description, in the past decade the sari has been re-energised by a new generation of designers who are experimenting with new drapes and innovative materials,  across India's burgeoning cities.  

In recent decades, through the film industry, Bollywood has played a significant role in promoting Indian culture, including the traditional sari, both within India and on the global stage, serving as a powerful platform for showcasing Indian traditions, fashion, and lifestyle.   As shown at the exhibition, in the two photos above, designer Pero drew inspiration from Bollywood heroine Sridevi in the 1989 film Chandini (meaning moonlight). Her white European lace sari features floral embroidery and sequins, worn with an accompanying silk blouse.

Many Bollywood films depict scenes of festivals and celebrations, where characters adorn themselves in traditional attire, including saris.  

On the red carpet, Bollywood celebrities attending national and international events often choose to wear saris, adding a touch of elegance and representing Indian culture on the global stage. 

The exhibition "explores the creative, often unexpected ways in which the sari is a site for design innovation and an empowering vessel for self-expression in India today."  

As an incredibly versatile garment as the sari can be wrapped, knotted, pleated, tucked or divided in two, highlighting or concealing the natural curves of the body, young women today who previously associated the sari with dressing up have transformed it into contemporary everyday fashion, teaming the sari with sneakers even, in place of sandals, as seen in Bollywood films.  Shruti Kasat designed embroidered trainers to be worn with saris.  Her "Saree Sneakers" came about when she found it difficult to wear heels while looking after her toddler.

The Saree Sneakers by Shruti Kasat.

In the 19th century, during the British Raj, the Nivi drape, along with the standard pairing of a blouse and petticoat, became commonly perceived as the only way to drape a sari.  It remains the most popular drape to this day.

However, the adaptability of the sari makes it astonishingly rich, and there remains a wealth of undiscovered stories.  More than 100 styles of drape are worn throughout India, using saris that typically range from 3 to 8 metres, while many more sari drapes probably remain undocumented.

The Offbeat Sari exhibition also addresses the global problem of wastage caused by fashion as it is one of the most polluting industries of the world.  It highlights how contemporary sari designers are responding to this pressing problem by reclaiming, restoring and reweaving used saris into new garments.  Echoing this approach is in the Design Museum shop where a selection of fashion accessories made with pre-loved saris.

Dangling fan-like earrings made from pre-loved saris on sale in the Design Museum shop.

The exhibition concludes with a look on new materials.  While the sari is simply a textile, within lies the intricate integration of weave, texture, colour and surface that collectively form a canvas for designers and artisans to express their creativity as they draw on India's craft histories to inform new techniques. 

 As the knowledge of textile-making is passed down through generations, from silks hand-woven in Kanchipuram to stainless-steel sculpting in New Delhi, emergent methods of producing textiles in India today are not only innovative but also sustainable. Natural materials such as rain-fed organic cotton and indigo dye are being revived and cultivated from seed to cloth.

All photos by Lucia Carpio.

Fashion: Marimekko Spring/Summer ’24 catwalk celebrates its iconic "Unikko" pattern at Copenhagen Fashion Week

One of the many well-known names showing during Copenhagen Fashion Week, which was held  August 7 to 10 2023, is the Finnish fashion and lifestyle brand, Marimekko, renowned for its distinctive and bold design aesthetic that fuses vibrant colors, bold patterns, and a sense of timeless simplicity. 

Marimekko's iconic prints and patterns are often inspired by nature, folk art, and the modernist design movement.  By fusing bold design, functionality, and cultural heritage,  Marimekko's gained a global following for its timeless style.

In presenting Marimekko's Spring/Summer ’24 collection, which was shown on the runway at Designmuseum Danmark in Copenhagen, the brand is also celebrating the 60th anniversary in 2024 of its most iconic floral print design "Unikko" that features large-scale, abstract poppy flowers, now an emblematic symbol of the brand.

Today the Unikko pattern and its bank of bold signature patterns and colours are found on a wide range of lifestyle products, including bags and accessories, home textiles, tableware, and even furniture.

True to its DNA, Marimekko's SS24 collection merges feminine minimalism with modern utilitarian workwear, both equally representative of the rich design heritage at Marimekko, characterized by clean lines, functional silhouettes, and the use of bold, eye-catching prints. The designs prioritize comfort and wearability while maintaining a sense of artistic expression. 

The brand's name, "Marimekko," translates to "Mary's Dress" in Finnish, reflecting its origin in textile and clothing design.  

Founded in 1951 by Armi Ratia and her husband Viljo Ratia, Marimekko quickly gained international recognition for its innovative approach to design, becoming a symbol of Finnish design excellence and creativity.

Today the brand trumpets its commitment to responsible sourcing of materials and ethical production methods, aligning with its values of quality, longevity, and respect for nature. 

Extending its influence beyond its native Finland, the brand has a global presence, with flagship stores in major cities and collaborations with various designers and brands. 

Copenhagen Fashion Week  is the go-to event for the latest trends in Scandinavian fashion, cutting-edge designs, with sustainability and ethical fashion as its central theme, and a unique platform for both established and emerging designers to present their collections to a global audience of fashion enthusiasts, industry professionals, buyers, and press.  

The twice-a-year event has gained international recognition for its strong emphasis on promoting environmentally conscious practices and responsible production within the fashion industry.  This focus aligns with the region's reputation for prioritizing eco-friendly and socially responsible approaches to design and manufacturing.

Photos from Copenhagen Fashion Week August 2023