ROME, Italy – Rosita Missoni, the visionary behind Missoni’s iconic zigzag knitwear and a pioneer of Italian ready-to-wear fashion, has passed away at the age of 93.
In a joint statement, Missoni SpA and the Missoni family confirmed that she passed away peacefully on Wednesday.
A Legacy Woven into Fashion History
Born Rosita Jelmini, she grew up in a textile manufacturing family that specialized in shawls, which laid the foundation for her lifelong dedication to craftsmanship. After marrying Ottavio Missoni, the couple established the Missoni fashion house in 1953 in Gallarate, a small town in northern Italy.
Their breakthrough came in 1958 when the Rinascente department store commissioned 500 striped shirt dresses, the first to bear the Missoni label. By 1966, the brand had made its Milan Fashion Week debut, helping transform the city into a global fashion capital.
Missoni’s signature zigzag patterns and vibrant color palettes became synonymous with luxury knitwear, setting the brand apart from fleeting fashion trends. The Missoni family itself became the brand’s best ambassadors, often seen wearing their own boldly patterned designs.
Family, Fashion, and Enduring Influence
In 1997, Rosita and Ottavio handed over the business to their children, though Rosita remained actively involved in the Missoni Home Collection, expanding the brand’s reach beyond clothing.
Despite its success, the family faced devastating losses in 2013 when their eldest son, Vittorio Missoni, who served as CEO, disappeared in a plane crash off the coast of Venezuela. The wreckage was only discovered six months later. That same year, Ottavio Missoni passed away at the age of 92, marking a painful chapter for the family.
In 2018, the Missoni family sold a 41.2% stake of the brand to the Italian investment firm FSI, while retaining majority ownership. Three years later, in 2021, Rosita’s youngest daughter, Angela Missoni, stepped down as creative director after 24 years at the helm.
A Lasting Impact on Italian Fashion
Rosita Missoni’s vision, artistry, and entrepreneurial spirit shaped not only Missoni’s global success but also the broader Italian fashion industry. Her legacy lives on through the timeless zigzag prints, the enduring Missoni aesthetic, and the next generations of designers inspired by her work.
Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.
Source: AP News
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