
The Kurki story
Marja Kurki Ltd was born in 1976 of a woman's powerful vision and desire to put some sparkle and joy into the way people dress. Our main articles are silk scarves and ties as elegant fashion accessories. Originally a one-woman business, Marja Kurki Ltd has, over the years, expanded into a thriving international design house with subsidiaries in Sweden, Denmark and China.
2007
• Marja Kurki designs a scarf and tie for the Forbidden City in Beijing
2006
• Golden Hanger 2006 award to Marja Kurki Ltd
• Design Forum’s Silk30 exhibition
• An office is opened in Shenzen, China.
2004
• Marja Kurki 10 years in China.
• FashionShow in China
• Partnership with the National Gallery, London.
• Partnership agreement with the Ateneum Art Museum, Helsinki
2001
• Exhibition at the Wang Fung Gallery, Peking
2000
• Marja Kurki scarves and ties go on sale at all the international airports in China.
1999
• Marja Kurki designs a scarf and tie for the World Figure Skating Championships in Helsinki.
1998
• Marja Kurki designs her first serviette collection.
• Marja Kurki Ltd is one of the suppliers for the Helsinki City of Culture 2000 project.
• Scarves and ties are on display in the Finnish pavilion at the Lisbon Expo.
• Marja Kurki designs a scarf and tie to mark the 250th anniversary of Suomenlinna.
• A Marja Kurki Shop opens in Stockholm in August.
• An office is opened in Shanghai, China.
• Marja Kurki presents her new Pasión jewellery range in October.
• Marja Kurki Ltd wins the Hopeajyvä image advertising award.
1997
• An exhibition is held at the Finnish Embassy in Washington.
• Marja Kurki designs the official scarf and tie for the World Ice-Hockey Championships in Helsinki.
1996
• The 20th anniversary exhibition of Marja Kurki Ltd opens at the Gallen-Kallela Museum.
• The book "Design by Marja Kurki" is published.
• Mrs Hillary Clinton meets Marja Kurki together with 20 other influential Finnish women (including the Speaker of Parliament).
• Sculptor Kimmo Pyykkö wins the design competition on a nature and wildlife theme held by the WWF and Marja Kurki Ltd.
1995
• Marja Kurki Svenska AB expands to take in Malmö and Gothenburg as well as Stockholm.
• The WWF and Marja Kurki launch a scarf and tie design competition for well-known Finns in March to raise funds for nature conservation.
1994
• First fashion show in China.
• A Danish subsidiary is founded: Marja Kurki ApS.
• Ties also go on sale on Finnair flights.
• Marja Kurki scarf and ties in honour of the European Athletics Championships in Helsinki.
1993
• Marja Kurki scarves go on sale on Finnair flights.
• Marja Kurki Svenska AB is launched in Sweden.
• The Kurki Fashion Company Beijing Rep. Office opens in Beijing.
1992
• Marja Kurki scarves and ties are on display at the Finnish pavilion of the Seville World Expo.
• Color Me Beautiful partnership begins, a different scarf for each of the seasons.
• Marja Kurki shops are opened at Stockmann's department stores.
• Malaysia project with the UN International Trade Center.
1991
• The family buys back the Marja Kurki business. Tapani Kurki takes the company's lead.
1988
• Marja Kurki Ltd is sold to Marimekko but Marja Kurki continues designing part of the collection.
1986
• Kurjentanssi exhibition at the Finnish Design Center.
• The Kurjentanssi exhibition poster is selected for the New York Museum of Modern Art. The brochure receives the Award of Excellence in a competition run by the magazine Communication Arts. Over 24,000 designs were submitted, and only 218 won prizes and were published in the Design Annual yearbook.
1980
• Marja Kurki designs her first scarf.
• The Finnish Olympic team appears in Marja Kurki scarves for the first time.
1979
• Marja Kurki visits the Canton Fair and enters into a partnership with the Shanghai Silk Corporation.
1976
• Marja Kurki Ltd is established.
