Italian fashion designer Rosita Missoni has passed away at the age of 93. She co-founded the Missoni fashion house with her husband Ottavio in 1953.
Born in Golasecca, Italy, in 1931, her family ran a textile factory producing scarves. She met Ottavio in London in 1948 when he was competing as a hurdler in the Olympics and already involved in the fashion industry, particularly sportswear.
They started their business in Gallarate. The brand gained notoriety in 1967 when models appeared in see-through tops without bras during a fashion show in Florence.
Despite this, Missoni became a successful label known for its colorful geometric knit patterns, often in stripes or zigzags, sheer fabrics, and unique weaving techniques. In 1996, their three children, Vittoria, Angela, and Luca, took over the company, although Rosita remained involved in designing collections.
Her son Vittorio died in a plane crash in Venezuela in 2013, the same year her husband Ottavio passed away at 92. Details about Rosita Missoni’s funeral have not been announced.
The president of Lombardy, where the brand is based and where Rosita was born, referred to her death as a significant loss.
Source: NOS