Rosita Missoni, Co-founder of Italian Knitwear Fashion House, Dies at 93

Rosita Missoni in Sydney, Australia, on Oct. 6, 2014. Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images for Missoni for Target

Italian designer and co-founder of the esteemed eponymous knitwear fashion house Rosita Missoni has died at age 93.

In a statement, the Missoni company confirmed on Jan. 2 news of her death on behalf of the family and did not give further details.

“Rosita’s creative vision and tireless dedication made the Missoni style a symbol of Made in Italy worldwide. Her artistic legacy will continue to live on through her creations, symbols of beauty and joy, inspiring fashion and design enthusiasts,” the post said.

Missoni and her husband, Ottavio Missoni, became household names in the high-end fashion industry after establishing their colorful knitwear line in 1953.

Rosita Missoni

Born in Italy in 1931, Missoni developed an early interest in textiles and design after growing up in a family of artisans who owned a factory producing shawls.

During a summer in London in 1948, she met her husband and in the ensuing years, together they turned their signature bright, geometric, and zig-zag designs into a fashion empire.

In 1966, the brand rose to prominence after showcasing its initial collection in Milan. It eventually was championed by major names in the industry, such as Vogue, Elle, and Marie Claire.

According to the trade journal Women’s Wear Daily, Missoni said that their designs came about as an accident after they tried out new production machines that were typically used to make blankets and swimwear.

“We could only do stripes, and then we started doing horizontal and vertical and little by little added more complicated stitches, plaids, and jacquards,” she said.

Missoni was integral to the brand’s development, overseeing design and strategy as creative director for the womenswear collections. Later, she turned the business into a family affair, taking over in 1997 with her three children, Vittorio, Angela, and Luca.

The label expanded beyond clothing into home decor, where Missoni remained hands-on, including in the years following when the company underwent a minority-stake sale of the brand to Fondo Strategico Italiano.

In 2013, tragedy struck when her son and company CEO, Vittorio, was killed in a plane crash off the coast of Venezuela, and four months later, before the wreckage was discovered, Ottavio died at the age of 92.

Missoni’s work is viewed as an “elevated art form” that brought self-expression and bold representation to Italian fashion. Her influence continues to inspire far beyond her designs.

She is survived by her children Angela and Luca and nine grandchildren and their families. Details on funeral arrangements have yet to be disclosed.