Missoni The Missoni business was founded in 1953 after a small knitwear shop initially called Maglificio Jolly was set up in Gallarate, Italy by Ottavio and Rosita Missoni. After their first collection was presented under the Missoni label in Milan in 1958, the business began to prosper with the help of the fashion editor Anna Piaggi. Missoni gained the support of Anna Piaggi during their first fashion show which took place in a pool when Piaggi arrived at the show wearing a vintage Missoni dress. The company soon became increasingly more popular with its creative clothing: stripes, patchworks, mosaics and zigzags in bright colour combinations. In April 1967 in a show in Florence Missoni had a wardrobe malfunction, which meant that they were not invited back the following year. Despite this, a Missoni boutique was opened in Bloomingdales following the support and admiration from Diana Vreeland, an editor of American Vogue. Following this, the Missoni name could be found on home furnishings, accessories, swimwear, cosmetics and perfume. The control of the Missoni business was handed down to the three children of Ottavio and Rosita Missoni: Vittorio Missoni as marketing director, Luca Missoni as menswear designer and Angela as womenswear designer. By 2005 Missoni earned 60-70% of its revenue from womenswear. However, as success came along, so did tragedy, and on the 4th of January 2013 a plane carrying Vittorio Missoni went missing off the coast of Venezuela, and his body was recovered 5 days later along with the remains of the aircraft. Later on that year in May, Ottavio Missoni died at the age of 92. In 2018 the Missoni family sold a 41.2% stake in the company to investment fund Fondo Strategico Italiano and in 2012 the women’s line was taken over by Alberto Caliri as Angela took on the role of creative director and president of Missoni. Angela continued the success of her family’s knitwear brand in the role of creative director until 2021 when she became president. Today, Livio Proli took on the role of CEO of Missoni during the first Italian lockdown after his work with Armani, and Angela remains president. Below are some of the recent Missoni designs, the striking colour that began in 1953 still remains today. Jemima
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