Rosita Missoni, the trailblazing figure behind vibrant knitwear, has passed away at the age of 93.

 The Missoni brand earned global acclaim and numerous awards for its unique patterns, innovative use of textiles, and a fashion approach frequently likened to modern art.

Rosita Missoni in Milan in June 2018.

Jan. 3, 2025, 6:06 PM GMT+6 

Italian designer Rosita Missoni, co-founder of the renowned fashion house that bears her name and is famous for its vibrant, patterned styles, has passed away at the age of 93, the family-owned brand announced on Thursday.

A statement from Missoni confirmed that Rosita "passed away peacefully on January 1, 2025," calling her "a visionary figure in the Italian and international fashion world."

In 1953, Rosita and her husband, Ottavio Missoni, launched the iconic fashion label, building a brand known for its colorful knitwear featuring geometric patterns, stripes, and the signature zigzag motif, "fiammato."

Born into a family of textile artisans near the northern Italian town of Varese, Rosita studied modern languages. While visiting London in 1948 to improve her English, she met Ottavio, who was competing in the Olympics as part of Italy’s 400-meter hurdles team.

The Missoni brand achieved global recognition and acclaim for its distinctive patterns, innovative use of textiles, and a fashion approach often likened to modern art. A key moment in its rise came in 1967 during the so-called "battle of the bras." Invited to showcase at the Pitti Palace in Florence, Rosita noticed the models' bras were visible under their tops, detracting from the carefully crafted color and pattern. She instructed the models to remove their bras, which, under the runway lights, made their outfits completely transparent—a bold move that captured the fashion world's attention. Despite being excluded from next year's event, Missoni's designs soon graced the covers of major fashion magazines like Vogue, Elle, and Marie Claire.

As the fashion industry began to move away from haute couture, Missoni’s layered, colorful designs came to symbolize the "put-together" style of the era. In the early days of the company, they moved their base to Sumirago, just north of Milan, where they settled in a home with views of the Monte Rosa mountains, a place Rosita cherished. She continued as the creative director for womenswear collections until the late 1990s, when she handed over the role to her daughter, Angela.

The Missoni family faced tragedy in 2013 when their eldest son, Vittorio, the company's marketing director, tragically died in a plane crash off the coast of Venezuela. Just a few months later, Ottavio passed away at the age of 92, shortly before the wreckage was discovered.

Under their leadership, the brand expanded into home collections and hotels. In 2018, Italian investment firm FSI invested 70 million euros for a 41% stake in the company. In 2023, Missoni selected Rothschild as a financial adviser to explore the potential sale of the company.