Italian fashion designer Rosita Missoni, recalled for iconic zigzag stripes, dead at 93

Italian fashion designer Rosita Missoni, one of the founders of the Italian fashion house Missoni, died on Thursday at the age of 93. Missoni was renowned for her colorful knitwear and the geometric patterns — most notably iconic zigzag stripes — that became synonymous with the brand she established with her husband, Ottavio Missoni, in 1958.

Over the years, she gained worldwide acclaim for her kaleidoscopic and vibrant designs and was regarded as part of a wave of designers who introduced Italian fashion to the global market in the 1950s and 1960s. Her unique textile patterns and original color combinations were often likened to modern art.

In 1967, Missoni sparked controversy in Italy when she sent models down the runway wearing knits without bras after noticing how undergarments affected the color and pattern of the garments.

Under the runway lights, the knitwear became completely transparent. The couple was subsequently banned from the event the following year but their colorful designs caught the attention of fashion magazine editors and buyers and the ban was soon lifted. Missoni went on to achieve international success.

Ottavio died in 2013 at the age of 92, just months after the tragic death of their son, Vittorio, who served as the brand’s marketing manager and was killed in a plane crash. Rosita remained the creative director for the women’s collections until the 1990s, when she handed over the role to her daughter Angela and shifted her focus to the brand’s home collection.