Marimekko and Laila Gohar Bring Joyful Immersion to Milan Design Week with Fall Capsule Preview
Finnish design house Marimekko has unveiled a captivating installation in collaboration with New York-based artist Laila Gohar, offering a playful and immersive preview of its upcoming bedroom-themed capsule collection, slated to launch in September 2025.
Unveiled at Milan Design Week, the experiential showcase reimagines the brand’s iconic archive prints—especially the bold stripes by Marimekko’s legendary designer Maija Isola—in a multisensory environment designed to evoke nostalgia, creativity, and comfort.
The centerpiece of the installation is a giant shared bed constructed from 18 layered mattresses, inspired by the Nordic concept of “Siskonpeti,” a traditional communal sleepover bed. Located in the historic Teatro Litta, Milan’s oldest operating theatre, the installation transforms both the venue’s foyer and exterior into an artistic haven of softness and sound.
“I’ve had a lifelong connection with Marimekko. My mother used to dress me in their prints,” says Laila Gohar. “Some of the designs were sourced from color swatches from the 1960s and 70s. Bringing them into a new era feels like giving these prints a second life.”
The fall capsule collection, curated by Gohar, draws heavily from Marimekko’s Helsinki archives. Her visit to the Marimekko headquarters and printing mill informed the selection process, blending historical motifs with modern interpretation.
Rebekka Bay, Creative Director of Marimekko, shares, “This collaboration embodies Marimekko’s universal ethos of joy and optimism. We wanted to create a space where guests can pause or engage—reflecting the way people live and interact with their personal spaces.”
Combining tactile installations, archival design heritage, and ambient audio, the experience celebrates the intimate and imaginative world of bedroom living—setting the tone for a collection that invites consumers to live boldly, even while at rest.
