Rosita Missoni, Co-Founder of Iconic Italian Fashion House, Dies at 93

The designer revolutionized knitwear with bold zigzag patterns and helped establish Italian ready-to-wear on the global stage.

Rosita Missoni co-founded the luxury knitwear label Missoni in 1953 with her husband Ottavio, blending her textile expertise with his sportswear innovations.
The brand gained global recognition for its signature colorful zigzag patterns, which became a hallmark of Italian fashion and modern design.
Missoni's first major breakthrough came in 1958 with a department store commission, followed by its first Milan fashion show in 1966 and a controversial 1967 presentation at Florence's Pitti Palace that boosted its fame.
Rosita served as the creative force behind the brand's womenswear until 1997, later focusing on the Missoni Home line, while her children took over leadership roles in the family business.
Her death marks the end of an era for the brand, which remains a symbol of Italian craftsmanship and familial dedication despite personal tragedies, including the loss of her son Vittorio and husband Ottavio in 2013.