Who was Rosita Missoni? Fashion pioneer passes away at 93

Rosita Missoni, cofounder of Missoni, passed away at 93 on January 1, 2025. The Italian knitwear and designer, born on November 20, 1931, was known for the colorful zigzag patterns and knitwear worldwide. Missoni’s Instagram account uploaded the news of the demise of Rosita Missoni on January 3, 2025, through a post with a heartfelt caption.

Missoni started when Rosita met Ottavio Missoni on her trip to London in 1948. Five years later, in 1953, the couple started the Missoni brand, turning their passion for textiles into an iconic label.

Their first shop was in Gallarate, and later, they moved to Sumirago to expand their business by starting a factory.

How did Missoni gain fame?

Rosita came from a family of textile artisans near Varese, Italy. Over time, their work began to gain global attention for blending art and fashion into one.

A defining moment for Missoni came in 1967 at a show in Florence. Just before the models hit the runway, Rosita noticed that their bras were seen through the outfits and were ruining the patterns. She decided to remove them and keep the outfit as it was. The bold move gained attention and was later called the “Battle of the Bras.”

While Missoni didn’t get the invitation for the next year to Florence, they did gain fame and name in Vogue, Marie Claire, and many big magazines for their gutsy move.

The couple had three children. Their eldest son, Vittorio, was the CEO of Missoni. He died at the age of 58 in a plane crash on January 4, 2013. The family went into shock when Ottavio Missoni died just four months later, on May 9, 2013.

Luca Missoni, the second son, is the artistic director of the Missoni Archive. Their youngest child, Angela Missoni, is the brand’s current CEO.

Timeline of Missoni’s milestones

1953: Ottavio and Rosita Missoni founded Missoni in Gallarate, Italy.

1958: The couple launched their first collection in Milan.

1965: Rosita met designer Emmanuelle Khanh in New York. This led to a collaboration.

1967: Missoni was invited to the Pitti Palace in Florence. The brand gained attention because of Rosita’s bold decision to remove the model’s bra to highlight the clothes’ patterns.

1969: Missoni started a new factory in Sumirago.

1981: Missoni Homes was launched.

1985: Missoni Sport was launched.

1998: Rosita gave her daughter, Angela, the role of creative director. M Missoni, an affordable version of Missoni, was launched.

2005: Hotel Missoni was launched in partnership with Rezidor Hotel Group.

2011: Missoni’s low-cost items were sold at Target, which led to heavy traffic.

2017: Missoni began its first apartment project in Miami, called Missoni Baia.

2018: Missoni decided to sell a stake in their business to Fondo Strategico Italiano. They sold 41.2% for $82 million. Missoni and Safilo also partnered to create an eyewear collection.

Rosita Missoni made Missoni a big name over the years. Their revenue is over $135 million as of 2023.