Rosita Missoni, the co-founder of the iconic fashion house Missoni, has passed away at 93. Known as the pioneer of colourful knitwear, she brought bold zigzags and vibrant patterns to life, making knitwear a staple in high fashion. Her creative vision shaped trends, inspired designers and turned Missoni into a global symbol of style and innovation.
Pioneers of athleisure Rosita Missoni co-founded the label in 1953 with her husband, Ottavio Missoni. Initially, they started with athleisure before reinventing knitwear with colourful and patterned style. They made knit tracksuits with side zips on the pants for easy wear with sneakers.
This idea laid the foundation for athleisure, allowing people to wear sporty clothing that was also fashionable, and practical clothing for everyday use. Zigzag was an accident! The brand’s iconic zigzag pattern emerged when Rosita and Ottavio experimented with malfunctioning knitting machines. This “happy accident” became the hallmark of Missoni’s designs.
It wasn’t always ‘Missoni’ Before adopting the family name, the Missonis’ knitwear business was called “Maglificio Jolly,” translating to “Joker Knitwear.” The name was inspired by Rosita Missoni’s fondness for the number seven and her superstitious nature. The famous pool show of 1967 Missoni collaborated with French stylist Emmanuelle Khanh on a collection showcased in a Milan swimming pool in 1967.
The event took place in a pool, with models parading in the water, sh.