Marimekko is turning 75, and the Finnish print house is marking it the way it knows best: with artists, color and things you actually use every day. The anniversary drop splits into two parts, a set of 75 hand painted serving plates that no two people will ever share, and a limited Oiva tableware capsule in a special anniversary colorway of the Kukasta kukkaan print.
75 plates, 75 originals
For the headline piece, Marimekko invited two of its print designers, Erja Hirvi and Antti Kekki, to paint by hand. Together they made 75 one of a kind serving plates, and the company is clear that no two are alike. Each carries the artists' own brushstrokes, which is a neat full circle for a brand built on the art of printmaking: before a pattern becomes a repeat on fabric or ceramics, it starts as a mark made by a person.
Those plates were sold only at an invitation only Friends of Marimekko customer event in New York on Thursday, October 22, so they are true collector pieces. If you were not on the list, the good news is that the second half of the celebration is built for everyone.
The Kukasta kukkaan anniversary capsule
The wider capsule takes Hirvi's Kukasta kukkaan print and puts it on Marimekko's Oiva tableware in a limited anniversary colorway. Hirvi created the print during a burst of creativity at her summer retreat, painting loosely and capturing the many ways flowers show up in nature. The Finnish name translates to from flower to flower, a nod to bumblebees drifting between summer blooms, and you can feel that movement in the finished pattern: big, loose blooms and leaves in red, mustard, green, violet and sky blue, scattered across a white ground with confident black line work.
The capsule is small and focused:
- Oiva / Kukasta kukkaan mug 2,5 dl, sold as a pair.
- Kukasta kukkaan plate 9 cm, a small plate for sweets, jewelry or a single pastry.
- Kukasta kukkaan plate 15 cm, the everyday side plate.
Each piece gets a special anniversary label on the base and comes in commemorative packaging with a floral anniversary card inside, shaped like the Kukasta kukkaan flower. That makes the whole set an easy gift that still feels like a keepsake.
Made for daily use
This is not shelf ceramics. The Oiva range, designed by Sami Ruotsalainen, is made of whiteware that is safe for the dishwasher, oven, microwave and freezer, so the anniversary pieces can go straight into rotation. That is the Marimekko idea in a nutshell: joyful pattern that lives in real kitchens, not behind glass.
Why it matters
Marimekko was founded in Helsinki 75 years ago on an idea of joy, optimism and personal empowerment, and it has always worked hand in hand with artists. The anniversary program leans into that history instead of simply reissuing archive prints. Pairing a one off, hand painted collectible with an accessible, limited run of everyday tableware is a smart move, and it gives fans at every level a way in.
Our call
This one is Surfacing. The hand painted plates were a one night, invitation only sale, but the Kukasta kukkaan capsule is the easiest way to own a piece of the 75th. Grab the mug pair while the limited run lasts, and add the 15 cm plate if you want a matching set.
Want more on Nordic design? Read our guide to Scandinavian design explained, browse the best gifts for designers, or go back to the roots in mid century modern explained.
Marimekko 75th anniversary items · Kukasta kukkaan mugs · Kukasta kukkaan plate 9 cm · Kukasta kukkaan plate 15 cm
