Help Identifying Marimekko Era

[Miss Youngblood]

Hello I purchased a beautiful dress by Marimekko and began researching it, I found the article about it on this site but none of the tags looked quit like it. I wanted to see if anyone had any specifics on it, thank you.

 

[Circa Vintage Clothing]

Hi Miss Youngblood, and welcome to the forums.

If you post pics of your garment and any other labels that you have, we can help dating it.

N

 

[northstarvintage]

Welcome!

I'd love to see a photo of the whole thing!

 

[vivavintageclothing]

Hi! I'm not sure if these help at all, without a full photo of your dress, but here are some circa 1960s Marimekko dresses I have sold in the past, with similar labels to the one you have shown us. (My labels were all in black with white text, though...)

The later Marimekko dresses that I have had, circa 1970s, have all had the larger, square labels like the ones shown in the VFG Label Resource. (The 1970s dresses also had labels with the year they were made, like this one--so that was helpful!)

 

[Midge]

@Miss Youngblood - can you please post a photo of the whole dress? I'd love to see the print. Somehow from what I can see, it seems familiar, but I can't place it. If it's a print designed by Maija Isola, I can check my book on her designs for Marimekko - it has the years she designed them. Marimekko keeps reusing fabric designs, this would at least help with a "not earlier than" dating. I've a few books that touch Finnish fashion, but now pictures of labels in them. Current labels though look quite different, even though the logo hasn't changed.
@Amy, I have a few Marimekko 60s dresses pictured in one book, and they look to be in the same vein as your 60s dresses.
Karin

 

[Miss Youngblood]

Thank you for your help! Yes it does look similar and I love the dresses!

Hi! I'm not sure if these help at all, without a full photo of your dress, but here are some circa 1960s Marimekko dresses I have sold in the past, with similar labels to the one you have shown us. (My labels were all in black with white text, though...)

The later Marimekko dresses that I have had, circa 1970s, have all had the larger, square labels like the ones shown in the VFG Label Resource. (The 1970s dresses also had labels with the year they were made, like this one--so that was helpful!)

 

[Miss Youngblood]

@Midge Thank You so much here are some more pictures!

Again thank you so much for your help! I am college student and I just got into going through and trying to sell some of my vintage pieces that I have held on to for too long, so I really appreciate your help and interest!

 

[Circa Vintage Clothing]

Thanks for the pics Miss Youngblood - clear photos of a garment reveal so much information.

I date your dress to about '74-77.

 

[StelmaDesigns]

The minute I saw your dress style, I saw 70s, so I agree with Nicole. Very fun dress!

 

[Midge]

I'd go with 70s too! I haven't found the print in the books, so it's by another designer than Maija Isola. But it looks familiar to me - I'm sure I've seen it before in the Marimekko shop, but they are constantly re-issuing classic prints. If you wanted to know more, I'd try e-mailing Marimekko - maybe they could at least tell you something on the fabric design, if not the dress itself.

Karin

 

[Miss Youngblood]

Thank you all so much for help! @Midge I will email them, thank you!

 

[Midge]

If they reply, please post it here - I'd be interested to know more about either dress or the fabric. I've been a huge Marimekko fan ever since I first walked into their shop in Helsinki years ago, and I generally love Finnish design - and Helsinki of course, which is one of the most beautiful cities in this world IMHO .

Karin

 

[Miss Youngblood]

@Midge I will for sure post if they email back

 

[Miss Youngblood]

Hello everyone, I emailed a few different offices around the world and got this reply from Maria from the UK and Ireland branch.

Dear Abigail,

Stunning dress and the design is called Tarha " Garden". I have liaised with Marimekko's head office and unfortunately I was not able to find out the exact design year to this dress. What I did managed to find out was that this design has been produced twice in the whole history of Marimekko. By the looks of the label this is an old version, so I would guess around 70's or before.


Hope this helps.

Maria

 

[poppysvintageclothing]

Thanks, Maria, for letting us know what they told you.

 

[Midge]

Thanks for letting us know! And now I know where I've seen this before - only in a different colorway (Marimekko like to try different colorways)! 2 or 3 years ago they started a cooperation with Converse, and they made at least 2 different models of sneakers of this print, but with an orange background, black dots and purple squiggles (@Amy, the print of your pink dress made it onto the sneakers too, but in black and white ).
Do a Google picture search with "Marimekko tarha" and you'll also find some images of vintage things made from this fabric.

Karin