ICON
WHY EVERY HOME SHOULD HAVE A…
Each month, the HB team picks a design classic to love for ever. This issue we look at one of the most recognised prints in the world
DESIGN
The design icon: The Unikko print.
Who designed it: Maija Isola (1927–2001), a Finnish textile designer who created more than 500 fabric patterns during her 38-year tenure with Marimek ko, the innovative and forward-thinking Scandi print and design company.
When & how: When Marimek ko’s founder Armi Ratia banned floral patterns, Maija rebelled and created a collection of graphic, pop art-inspired floral fabrics. Among them was the red and white Unikko (meaning ‘poppy’ in Finnish), which has been continuously printed since its launch in 1964. Maija often worked late into the night, sitting on the floor painting her designs on canvas (above).
WHY WE LOVE IT
Widely characterised as an enigmatic free spirit, Maija travelled extensively through Europe, North Africa and America and her work is infused with influences from different cultures and the art and nature she encountered along the way. But her idea for Unikko came from a source much closer to home – the poppies in her garden. It is very much a reflection of the time in which it was created, amid the counterculture of the 1960s and in a world poised for Beatlemania and flower power. Since then, the joyful print has covered everything from teapots to curtains.
WHY YOU’LL LOVE IT FOR
