Released July 28, Bessatsu Taiyo "The World of marimekko" Includes Special Stickers with First Edition!

Heibonsha Ltd. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo / Representative Director: Junpei Shimonaka) will publish Bessatsu Taiyo "The World of marimekko" on July 28.

Bessatsu Taiyo "The World of marimekko be yourself" (Published July 28, 2026, by Heibonsha)

May 20, 1951, Helsinki. A fashion show, funded by all of founder Armi Ratia's assets, captivated the audience with a single dress featuring bold, hand-printed patterns.

Founder Ratia repeatedly said, "I am not selling clothes. I am proposing a way of life." For her, marimekko was not fashion, but a worldview and a philosophy.

Ratia's words from her 14-year-old diary: "The only responsibility is beauty. The only reality is dream. The only power is love." Beauty, dream, and love. These are the origins of marimekko and the message it continues to send to the world.

From Bessatsu Taiyo "The World of marimekko be yourself," pp. 4-5.

The "marimekko 1950s–2020s: The History of Print Art Woven with Color and Pattern" section features a curated selection of patterns from the 3,500 designed over 75 years, presented chronologically. It also introduces the words and homes of iconic marimekko designers such as Maija Isola, delving into their personalities and creative processes.

From Bessatsu Taiyo "The World of marimekko be yourself," pp. 70-71.

Furthermore, "marimekko and Japan: Design Connecting Finland and Japan" introduces the work of Japanese designers who were active at marimekko, Fusao Ishimoto and Katsuji Wakisaka, and includes episodes from that time. In "my marimekko," Akira Minagawa shares an episode about his encounter with marimekko at the age of 19, and we report on Sumo wrestler Sadanoumi Takashi visiting a shop and selecting yukata fabric at marimekko.

From Bessatsu Taiyo "The World of marimekko be yourself," pp. 96-97.

Additionally, it includes the diary of Saya Samira Yugiki from his walk through Nordic cities in 1967, the exchange between Finnish and Japanese design, and a summary of marimekko's 75-year history.

The first edition includes a special sticker as a collaboration between Bessatsu Taiyo and marimekko. Like the cover, the sticker features the "Kukkakukkaan (From Flower to Flower)" pattern designed by Erja Hirvi.

From Bessatsu Taiyo "The World of marimekko be yourself," pp. 78-79.

marimekko x Bessatsu Taiyo Special Sticker (First Edition Limited)

Bessatsu Taiyo "The World of marimekko," which allows readers to understand marimekko's designs and history in its entirety, will be available from July 28 at bookstores nationwide and online.

[Table of Contents]

Opening Visuals

Words of Armi Ratia, Founder of marimekko

It All Began with a Single Dress

Armi Ratia's Philosophy and the Origins of marimekko, by Noriko Kawakami

marimekko 1950s–2020s

The History of Print Art Woven with Color and Pattern

1950s: The Origins of marimekko – Philosophy and Lifestyle on Fabric

1960s: Encounter with Pop Art and Youth Culture

1970s: The Era of Returning to Nature, Ethnic Tastes, and Earth Tones

1980s: Postmodernism and Sophisticated Urban Aesthetics

1990s: The Trend of Minimalism and Reinterpretation of Classics

2000s: The Revival of marimekko – Tradition and Contemporary Approaches

2010s: Resonance of Diverse Talents, Expanding Range of Expression

2020s: The Warmth of Handcraft and Expansion of Imagination

Designer File 01: Maija Isola

"The Most Important Thing is the Freedom to Make Mistakes"

Designer File 02: Vuokko Nurmesniemi

A Pioneer of Free and Fair Clothing Production

Designer File 03: Erja Hirvi

Drawing Lines Only I Can Draw

Designer File 04: Antti Kekki

Shapes That Transcend Time, Drawn with Scissors

MInna Guides Us Through marimekko Headquarters and Factory

Print Art That Creates Community

Design is an Everyday Item

Interview with Pirvi Karhama, Director of the Design Museum

marimekko and Japan

Design Connecting Finland and Japan

Designer File 05: Fusao Ishimoto

"marimekko Was an Experimental Ground"

Designer File 06: Katsuji Wakisaka

In Search of the Words "BE YOURSELF"

my marimekko

marimekko and My 19-Year-Old Self, by Akira Minagawa

Veteran Sumo Wrestler Takashi Sadanoumi Dressed in marimekko

"Living with Patterns"

A Moment Woven by the Former Asaka Palace and marimekko

Nordic Design and Folk Crafts

Nordic Cities Walked by Saya Samira Yugiki in 1967

On the Periphery of Design History

Finnish and Japanese Design

Finnish and Japanese Design Exchange in the 1950s

Kai Frank's Three Visits to Japan

marimekko's 75-Year History

Years of Printing "Dreams" and "Love" into Daily Life

1949–1959: The Birth of "Textile Concept" and the Origins of Nordic Modernism

1960–1979: The Golden Age. Global Culture and Encounters with the East

1980s–1990s: Wandering Without Direction and the "Miracle of marimekko"

2000s–Present (2026): Global Expansion and Active Collaborations

Joy in Everyday Life

Rebecca Bay Talks About marimekko's Present and Future

Encountering marimekko in Finland

[Book Information]

[Title] Bessatsu Taiyo "The World of marimekko be yourself"

[Editor] Bessatsu Taiyo Editorial Department

[Release Date] July 28, 2026

[Specifications] A4 variant / Softcover / 144 pages

[Price] 2,750 yen (10% tax included)

[ISBN] 978-4-582-94638-3

[Publisher] Heibonsha

URL: https://www.heibonsha.co.jp/book/b675970.html