Kaisa’s Valentine’s Day Picks

Do you know someone who loves Marimekko? Here are my top picks for Valentine’s day:
1. Swedish Hasbeens: Okay, so technically these aren’t Marimekko, but our models have been rocking these awesome clogs with their Marimekko outfits so we decided we needed to get some for the store. I’m eagerly awaiting spring so I can wear them!
2. Surrur Book: If your partner is super creative, they will love this book. There are so many cool things to do with Marimekko fabrics. My personal favorite is the Tableclothlet. Bonus points for volunteering to watch the kids so they can have time to do the projects!
3. Sirittaja Onesie: You can’t go wrong with Marimekko classic stripes. My son will definitely be rocking this one.
4. Keiju Pouch: Every girl can use a new cosmetic bag, especially one in the classic Unikko poppy print. Why not add some of her favorite makeup or a gift card to her favorite cosmetics store?
Hope you all have a wonderful Valentine’s Day and happy shopping!

What’s new this spring for kids>

We love this new pattern for spring called Halihali by Jenni Tuominen. This whimsical pattern is available in duvet cover & pillowcase sets, bath towels and art fabric perfect for hanging on the wall. Why not redecorate your kid’s room this spring?

Meet the Marimekko Upper East Side Staff> Owner Josie Cotzas

As we enter into the final month of 2011, we are reflecting on what an exciting year this has been for Marimekko Upper East Side.  Owner Josie Cotzas is celebrating  her 20th Anniversary as a Marimekko retailer.  Originally from Cleveland, Josie moved to NYC in 1983 to attend FIT and graduated in 1987 with a marketing degree specializing in interiors.  She went to work at the Marimekko flagship store on 56th street in 1989 as the store manager and stayed through the closing of that store as Marimekko faced tough times at home and abroad.  Determined to not let Marimekko disappear from the US landscape she started a Marimekko mail order business in July of 1991, known as Kiitos Marimekko (Kiitos, Inc.), with a colleague.  Soon after, she opened a shop on Madison Avenue in March of 1992.  The shop then moved to it’s current 3rd Avenue & 72nd Street location in 2002 and kiitosmarimekko.com was launched.  Josie and her employees are committed to providing superior customer service and have extensive knowledge of the Marimekko brand and products. Check back to meet the rest of our employees soon!

In-Store Events> Check Out Our Pre-Holiday D.I.Y. Workshops!

Lumimarja Pants, Oh My!

The Sartorailist found this fabulous man on the streets of Milan, Italy wearing these Lumimarja pants (clearly custom-made!) Love! http://www.thesartorialist.com/photos/on-the-street-late-bloomer-milan/. Shop the fabric here: http://www.marimekkouppereastside.com/lu130pi.html.

Creative Gift Idea> Mix it Up!

Marimekko kitchen accessories make a wonderful gift- for housewarming parties, birthdays or holidays. Most of us buy the same pattern in all pieces, but why not mix it up? Look how fabulous the Lappuliisa, Ruuturouva & Unikko patterns all look together! Get creative with your next gift. Shop kitchen accessories now: http://www.marimekkouppereastside.com/marin.html.

Inspiration> Yhdessa Fabric Panel

We love what designer Jonathan Taylor did with the Yhdessa fabric here. Hanging this large panel outside of his home makes such a bold statement. We wish we lived in a climate where we could do something like this-watch out for rain! Buy the fabric here: http://www.marimekkouppereastside.com/yh190wh.html.

Make Your Own Marimekko> Surrur Book

The Surrur Book is so inspirational; with over 60 home & clothing projects ranging from easy to slightly challenging you’ll be thinking about how to use Marimekko textiles in a whole new way!

Check out the table clothlet project-who wants a boring rectangular tablecloth?! How fabulous! Check out what the Los Angeles Times had to say about the book. It’s in-store and available to purchase now.

Amazing Watercolor of Marimekko Clothing

We found this amazing watercolor painting by artist Morin Zasly featuring Marimekko clothing from the Fall 2010 collection and we just had to share! We are always inspired by Marimekko design and we love to see how it inspires others as well!

Look Who’s Talking About Marimekko Upper East Side

http://floralsgalore.com/2011/08/30/floral-girls-skirt-from-marimekko/
You can buy this adorable girl’s skirt here.