Finnish Fabric Exhibit of Marimekkoís Offbeat Dresses Mix Adaptability, Avant-garde by Heather Nalbone The bright colors and geometric designs of Marimekko designer dresses have never been donned by the masses. The Finnish textile and clothing company leans to the daring side of design, which is reflected in its 2004 catalogue of spring and summer wear containing full-page displays of form-fitting and flowing dresses in bold reds, yellows, greens and pinks. The success of Marimekko, which means ìMaryís Dressî in English, is from a combination of talent, audacity and a dose of luck, as one presenter described the companyís rise to acclaim during a recent press opening for the ìMarimekko: Fabrics, Fashion, Architectureî exhibit at the Embassy of Finland. Although the labelís signature poppy-print dresses have been worn by American celebrities such as Sarah Jessica Parker and Chelsea Clinton, the company is known by name among a select group of customers. In fact, Marimekko has little more than two dozen retail stores worldwide. The businessís primary marketing tool since its inception has been word of mouth. It was Jackie Kennedy who first helped captivate the international fashion crowd when she wore a Mari mekko dress on the cover of a Sports Illustrated magazine in the early 1960s. If thereís one thing more fascinating than the word-of-mouth rise of Marimekko, itís the companyís product line, which has remained relatively consistent in style for more than five decades. The current line is a conglomeration of neutral business styles and hip outerwear created by a hand-picked group of diverse designers. Some of the companyís most popular designs, such as enlarged colored flowers on white backgrounds, have been mainstays for 50 years. That unique Finnish mix of adaptability and avant-garde is the focus of the Marimekko display at the Finnish Embassy. Meticulously arranged throughout the nooks and crannies of the glass-paneled embassy building are a series of jackets, gowns, pajamas, and household goods representing the designerís presence in each of the past six decades. The displayóarranged in coordination with New Yorkís Bard Graduate Center for Studies in the Decorative Arts, Design and Cultureóprovides the backdrop for a historical tour of Finnish design, which includes Thai silk suits, striped polo shirts and green wool felt boots from 1967. Todayís Marimekko is the brainchild of the husband-and-wife design team of Armi and Viljo Ratia, who followed their urge to invent a unique brand of clothing in post-war Finland. Some say it was Armiís unique tactics that helped make the company a successful anomaly, such as her decision to employ young designers untrained in fashion design and her rejection of floral patterns in the 1950s when ìeveryone elseî was making them. The clothing company also took the unique step of adding household goods to its collection, which were quickly popularized by the Crate & Barrel franchise. ìMarimekko: Fabrics, Fashion, Architectureî runs through May 16 at the Embassy of Finland, 3301 Massachusetts Ave., NW. For more information, please call (202) 298-5886 or visit www.finland.org. Heather Nalbone is a contributing writer for The Washington Diplomat.