Riitta Immonen
Encyclopedia
Riitta Immonen was a Finnish
fashion artist and entrepreneur, best known as the co-founder of Finnish fashion corporation Marimekko
. Immonen was also known for her one-of-a-kind outfits, celebrity clients and a question-and-answer column which she wrote for Finnish fashion magazine Eeva in the 1950s and 60s.
Riitta Immonen was born in 1918 in Ilomantsi
. A self-taught clothing designer, Immonen opened her first design boutique in Helsinki
during the war
in 1942 which grew into a success despite the shortages of the ensuing years. In 1951, she and Armi Ratia
started up Marimekko
to sell fabrics made by Finnish textile firm Printex. However after the firm's first season, she focused on her own Cinderella collections, and eventually left Marimekko a few years later, continuing to design clothes for the rest of her life. In 1987-1990 she was still designing unique outfits for a company named Atelierika. In 2008, Immonen was the subject of an exhibition at the Finnish Design Museum
. She died later the same year in Helsinki
.
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
fashion artist and entrepreneur, best known as the co-founder of Finnish fashion corporation Marimekko
Marimekko
Marimekko is a Finnish company based in Helsinki that has made important contributions to fashion, especially in the 1960s and 1970s. They are particularly noted for brightly-colored printed fabrics and simple styles, used both in women's garments and in home furnishings.- Foundation :Marimekko was...
. Immonen was also known for her one-of-a-kind outfits, celebrity clients and a question-and-answer column which she wrote for Finnish fashion magazine Eeva in the 1950s and 60s.
Riitta Immonen was born in 1918 in Ilomantsi
Ilomantsi
Ilomantsi is municipality and a village of Finland.It is located in the province of Eastern Finland and is part of the North Karelia region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is...
. A self-taught clothing designer, Immonen opened her first design boutique in Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
during the war
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
in 1942 which grew into a success despite the shortages of the ensuing years. In 1951, she and Armi Ratia
Armi Ratia
Armi Ratia was the founder of the Finnish textile and clothing company Marimekko Oy. She is one of the most famous female entrepreneurs in Finland....
started up Marimekko
Marimekko
Marimekko is a Finnish company based in Helsinki that has made important contributions to fashion, especially in the 1960s and 1970s. They are particularly noted for brightly-colored printed fabrics and simple styles, used both in women's garments and in home furnishings.- Foundation :Marimekko was...
to sell fabrics made by Finnish textile firm Printex. However after the firm's first season, she focused on her own Cinderella collections, and eventually left Marimekko a few years later, continuing to design clothes for the rest of her life. In 1987-1990 she was still designing unique outfits for a company named Atelierika. In 2008, Immonen was the subject of an exhibition at the Finnish Design Museum
Design Museum, Helsinki
Design Museum is a museum in Helsinki devoted to the exhibition of both Finnish and foreign design, including industrial design, fashion, and graphic design. The building is situated in Ullanlinna, on Korkeavuorenkatu Street, and is owned by the Republic of Finland through Senate Properties...
. She died later the same year in Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
.
Biography
- Ritva Koskennurmi-Sivonen, Creating a unique dress : a study of Riita Immonen’s creations in the Finnish fashion house tradition, Helsinki : Akatiimi, 1998, ISBN 951-97208-7-1