Rosita Missoni, matriarch of Italy’s iconic fashion house Missoni, has passed away at the age of 93. The renowned fashion designer was known for her colorful zigzag-patterned knitwear that helped launch Italian ready-to-wear and make Gallarate a fashion destination.
Born Rosita Jelmini, Missoni grew up in a textile factory-owning family before meeting and marrying Ottavio Missoni, the founder of the eponymous fashion house. The couple’s three children joined their parents in expanding the brand, which gained its first big break with 500 vertically striped shirt dresses commissioned by Rinascente department store in 1958.
Missoni’s designs became synonymous with wearable and timeless fashion, earning her a reputation as one of Italy’s most successful fashion entrepreneurs. The family took over the business from Ottavio Missoni in 1997, while Rosita remained involved in the home collection. Her son Vittorio died in 2013 when his plane crashed off Venezuela, along with five others.
In recent years, the family sold a stake to Italian investment fund FSI and saw Angela Missoni step down as creative director in 2021. The company remains under majority control of the Missoni family, who have continued to shape its success over the decades.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/italy-missoni-fashion-designer-dies-b7fb84d222196ffa70cb5a495c8f01b0