MARIMEKKO: CUSHIONS AND CRANES

The Beverly Hills Marimekko store was organized into different "rooms:" home, fashion, baby, fabric. The center of the store (just as we entered) was the "Living Room:" an upholstered couch, bean bags, cushions and fabric walls. A nice place to relax and take in the scenery (perhaps for the well intentioned husbands who accompanied their Marimekko crazed significant others) the colorful setting showcased how the colorful patterns can be applied to diverse styles of furniture. The display bean bags were so popular that the store has recently started taking orders for bean bags upholstered in custom fabrics. 

Also on display were hundreds of colorful cranes. When I researched the story, I learned that the cranes are part of an art installation called 1000 Acts of Kindess. According to the website, "Marimekko visual teams installed 1000 cranes as a centrepiece in its flagship stores. 1000 Acts of Kindness uses cranes to inspire us to create a ripple effect, making the world a better place one compassionate act at a time. We hope the cranes inspire 1000 acts of kindness that resonate into the world. Everyone who visits the installation can be part of the living art, by writing an act of kindness on a crane, and going out and performing that act within the next 48 hours."