Rosita Missoni, the Italian designer and co-founder of the eponymous fashion house known for its vibrant and patterned styles, has passed away at the age of 93. She had launched the business with her husband Ottavio in 1953, developing a brand that gained international recognition for its colorful knitwear featuring geometric patterns and stripes.
Born into a family of textile artisans near Varese, Italy, Rosita studied modern languages before meeting Ottavio at an Olympic event in London in 1948. The couple’s partnership led to the creation of a fashion house renowned for its avant-garde use of textiles and distinctive patterns.
The brand’s success was marked by several notable events, including the infamous “battle of the bras” incident at Pitti Palace in Florence, where models’ transparent outfits caused a sensation. This publicity helped Missoni gain recognition on the covers of top fashion magazines like Vogue, Elle, and Marie Claire.
Under Rosita’s creative direction for womenswear collections until the late 1990s, the brand continued to thrive. However, the couple faced tragedy in 2013 with the loss of their son Vittorio in a plane crash off Venezuela’s coast. Ottavio passed away four months later at the age of 92.
In recent years, Missoni expanded its product lines into home collections and hotels. In 2018, an Italian investment fund acquired a significant stake in the company, and in 2023, Rothschild was appointed as financial adviser to explore potential sale opportunities.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/01/02/style/designer-rosita-missoni-dies-age-93/index.html