Rosita Missoni, Iconic Co-founder of Renowned Fashion Brand, Passes Away at 93

Rosita Missoni, the visionary behind the celebrated Italian knitwear brand Missoni, has passed away at 93 years old. The announcement of her death came from Attilio Fontana, president of Italy's Lombardy region, who remarked on the brand’s influential "multicoloured textures" and highlighted the loss as significant for Italy, especially in her hometown of Varese. Rosita began the luxury label with her late husband Ottavio in 1953 in Northern Italy. With a family background in textile making, Rosita went on to transform the fashion landscape with the brand's iconic zig-zag patterns.

She first encountered Ottavio Missoni during a language course in London while he was training for the 1948 Olympics. Upon marrying in 1953, Rosita integrated her husband’s passion for design as they started a workshop for machine-knitwear in Gallarate. The couple’s breakthrough occurred in 1958 when a Milan department store commissioned a large order of striped dresses. Such success was buoyed further by their first catwalk appearance in 1966, culminating in international fame, partly due to the daring choices made during fashion presentations. While Ottavio passed in 2013, Rosita remained an active presence in the fashion world, especially within Missoni Home, as their daughter Angela took over the main fashion line later on. Her contributions to style and culture have cemented her place as an icon in the industry.