Rosita Missoni: The Legacy of a Fashion Pioneer

Rosita Missoni, Italian designer and co-founder of the iconic Missoni fashion house, has died at 93. Known for its colorful knitwear with geometric patterns, Missoni gained international acclaim. The brand faced turbulence when models went bra-less in 1967, inadvertently gaining massive publicity.

Italian designer Rosita Missoni, co-founder of the Missoni fashion house celebrated for its vibrant and patterned styles, has passed away at 93, an official reported. She established the business in 1953 with her husband Ottavio, crafting a brand renowned for its colorful knitwear, geometric patterns, and signature zigzag motif known as fiammato.

Rosita, stemming from a family of textile artisans near Varese, Italy, met Ottavio during a 1948 visit to London. He was competing in the Olympics for Italy's 400 meters hurdles team. The Missoni brand received global recognition and accolades for its distinct patterns, avant-garde textiles, and fashion approach akin to modern art.

A notorious 'battle of the bras' incident in 1967 during a Pitti Palace runway show in Florence thrust the brand into the media spotlight. Despite the initial setback, Missoni quickly graced covers of prestigious fashion magazines like Vogue, Elle, and Marie Claire. The brand ventured into home collections and hotels, and in 2023 hired Rothschild as financial adviser for a potential company sale.

(With inputs from agencies.)