Vuokko Nurmesniemi

Vuokko Eskolin-Nurmesniemi is one of the pioneers of modern Finnish design. From 1953 to 1960, she worked as a designer at Marimekko, where she revolutionized both printed textiles and garment design in Finland. In her hands, patterns and cuts were transformed into bold, clean and functional silhouettes — at a time when corsets were still a part of everyday women's fashion.

Vuokko was, above all, a textile designer. She sought to preserve the integrity of large-scale prints in finished garments, eliminating unnecessary seams that would disrupt the flow of the pattern. For the sake of practicality, she also replaced traditional, often unreliable buttons with snaps and zippers. The result was a new kind of garment — timeless, relaxed and designed for movement.

In 1964, Vuokko founded her namesake company. This marked the beginning of the Vuokko brand, which went on to become a classic of Finnish and Nordic design.

Her influence is still visible in Marimekko’s collections today. The most iconic example is the Jokapoika shirt, made from her Piccolo fabric, which has been in continuous production for almost 70 years. In our online store, you’ll find some of Vuokko’s most beloved classics from across the decades — timeless expressions of freedom, strength and enduring design.

“There is no fashion, only time.” – Vuokko