Copenhagen Fashion Week: Marimekko Showcases Bold Expression of Pattern and Heritage

Finnish fashion and lifestyle brand Marimekko unveiled its Spring/Summer 2026 collection in a  runway show that merged bold pattern expression with industrial performance art on August 7 at Copenhagen Fashion Week.

Staged in a former industrial site along Copenhagen’s harbour, the venue’s raw, utilitarian backdrop created a dynamic contrast to the vibrant, energetic summer collection. Known for its iconic prints and colours, Marimekko explored playful proportions and carefully balanced compositions in what the brand called a “performative expression of pattern.”

 

The SS26 collection draws deeply from the art of printmaking, with overlapping lines and layered textures forming ever-changing, human-made motifs. This visual rhythm was accompanied by a specially produced industrial soundscape, created from recordings at Marimekko’s textile printing factory in Helsinki and mixed by Finnish musician and artist YSI. The result was a multisensory experience that blurred the boundaries between fashion, art, and performance.

Creative Director Rebekka Bay described the collection as a transformation of familiar ideas into new, unexpected forms. 

“We re-formulate some of Marimekko’s most perennial styles and silhouettes and turn known ideas into something entirely new,” said Bay. “This is seen in a new version of the iconic Marimini dress from the 1960s — now reimagined as a playful summer co-ord set.”

The collection featured a vivid palette of pinks, greens, and summer blues — from peony and cherry blossom to hydrangea and spirulina — punctuated by accents of pistachio, peach, and zesty lemon. The garments created poetic interplay between femininity and pragmatism, mini and maxi, soft layering and utilitarian edge. Every look was paired with contrasting adidas Tokyo footwear, emphasizing the collection’s theme of unexpected harmony.

Central to the showcase was a celebration of the 70th anniversary of Marimekko’s most enduring design icon: the Jokapoika shirt, originally designed by Vuokko Eskolin-Nurmesniemi in 1956. Known for its genderless silhouette, distinctive silver buttons, and bold Piccolo stripe, the shirt was reintroduced with modern interpretations. Variations included cropped silhouettes, enlarged prints, multicolored designs, and utilitarian dresses — all while paying homage to the hand-painted origins of the Piccolo pattern, where overlapping brushstrokes create a unique third hue.

Founded in 1951, Marimekko remains globally recognized for its original prints and vibrant use of colour across fashion and home décor. With around 150 stores worldwide and an online presence in 35 countries, the brand continues to build on its legacy of artistic integrity and design innovation.

The SS26 show reaffirmed Marimekko’s place at the intersection of craft, culture, and contemporary style — celebrating its heritage while boldly pushing the boundaries of pattern and proportion.

All photos by James Cochrane, at Copenhagen Fashion Week SS26 edition.