JUDY COLLINS , INDIGO GIRLS ,

ELIZABETH PERKINS , LADYSMITH BLACK MAMBAZO ,

TONY KUSHNER & RACHEL MADDOW !

24 manchester life | manchesterlifemagazine . com

manchester life magazine 2023 25

Est . 2017

MANCHESTER LIFE magazine showcases the beauty , lifestyle , and community of Manchester and the Mountains . This twice-annual lifestyle publication for residents and visitors includes exceptional editorial and photography , and features dining , shopping , recreation , the arts , lodging , home and landscape design , and real estate .

NOW PUBLISHED TWICE YEARLY !

SUMMER / FALL 2025

closing : material : issuance :

3 / 31 4 / 7 5 / 19

HOLIDAY / WINTER 2025

closing : 9 / 15 material : 9 / 22 issuance : 11 / 3

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Controlled Circulation 20K +/ - printed per issue Extended Readership 50K + readers per issue Weekly eNewsletter 16.7K + readers

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DISTRIBUTION

We are thrilled to report that our distribution is being enhanced for 2025 across all publications !

In addition to being mailed to subscribers with Vermont Magazine , Manchester Life is distributed to real estate offices , retail shops , galleries , restaurants , inns , welcome centers , and other high-quality , hightraffic locations in Manchester , Dorset , Stratton , Arlington , Bennington , the Mettowee Valley area , Western Massachusetts , Saratoga , and Lake George .

True

STORY BY BENJAMIN LERNER

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY MARIMEKKO

Iconic Finnish textile , clothing , and home décor brand , Marimekko , celebrates the tenth anniversary of its beloved Manchester outlet store

O n a beautiful afternoon in Manchester , the surrounding hills and valleys are awash with vibrant colors . Looking through the windows of the Marimekko storefront on Main Street , the distinctive tones , shades , and silhouettes are every bit as enchanting . Bold and striking prints , textiles , clothing , accessories , and home goods line the walls and shelves , providing local residents and visiting vacationers with the opportunity to explore a fanciful demimonde of forward-thinking design . Marimekko ’ s fetching sartorial and home décor offerings blend form and functionality in stunning ways , reflecting the free-spirited , progressive philosophy that has defined the brand since its earliest days .

It ’ s been ten years since the only Marimekko outlet in North America opened in Manchester , and the company ’ s passionate retail team has continued to refine its services and product selection to meet the evolving preferences of its clientele . Throughout the past decade , the Manchester outlet has built a resilient following that mirrors Marimekko ’ s enduring , global reach on a smaller scale . “ People have traveled long distances just to shop here ,” says Marimekko ’ s Manchester Store Manager , Kelley Chase . “ The store has become a destination in itself , and we have been able to diversify and expand the inventory and elevate the customer experience . Our store truly highlights that Marimekko is a lifestyle brand that offers something for everyone . We now carry things that serve local residents , such as bedding and kitchen items . It ’ s all been possible thanks to the help of our team members here , Aly Morgan , Ann Jareckie , Paige Mann , Elizabeth Paxson , Tove Wainwright , and Molly Murphy-Major .”

Though the radiant print patterns that adorn Marimekko ’ s dresses , shirts , skirts , mugs , plates , pillows , tablecloths , shoes , handbags , and bedding sets certainly command attention , the brand ’ s true colors are beautifully manifested through the customers ’ lasting emotional and personal connections with the products . “ We ’ ve had customers bring in vintage dresses and other pieces that they ’ ve owned for decades ,” says Chase . “ It makes our day every time we get to hear their stories .”

Regardless of whether a customer is a Manchester resident or a visiting vacationer , the staff at Marimekko ’ s Manchester outlet always greets them with a warm and joyful reception . Upon arrival , customers will find many of Marimekko ’ s most recognizable prints used in a variety of classic and newlyreleased products . A walk through the store isn ’ t just an enjoyable and unique retail experience – it also serves as an immersive tour through the history of the brand ’ s evolution and product offerings .

In 1949 , Viljo Ratia was looking to take his Helsinki-based printing company , Printex , in a new direction . His wife , Armi Ratia , eventually became the founder and driving force behind Marimekko . Initially , she got her start in the industry by commissioning promising , young artists to design new textile patterns for Printex . Customers who come to the Manchester outlet will see a wall full of bolts of fabric sold by the yard in the back of the store . The textiles can be cut to custom specifications by Marimekko Manchester ’ s staff using the same hand-

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