Ottavio Missoni, patriarch of the celebrated Italian family, known for his multicolor knits and unique and original psychedelic motifs, has passed away at the age of 92.
Ottavio, founder of the Missoni empire, died in his family villa in Sumirago, in the northeast of Italy, as a result of a heart illness. Born in Croatia to Italian parents in 1921, the couturier first set himself apart in the 400 meter dash, an athletic past time that would strongly influence his knitwear brand. At the London Olympics, he met Rosite Jelmini, who would become his spouse and found the Missoni label with him in 1953.
The couple immediately seduced the masses with their bold extravagance. “The rainbow of colors that sprang from his creations gave us the impression of a happy man who managed to bring his fashion to a global audience,” declared Milan mayor Giuliano Pisapia, adding that Missoni “rendered great the Made in Italy brand.” Multicolor knits with shades that lend themselves to a thousand variations, geometric prints, and most notably the famous zigzag are all signatures of the brand, in line with their penchant for abstraction and the psychedelic effects of the era. Ottavio often said, with a smile on his face, that his machines couldn’t make straight couture.
Diana Vreeland and Anna Piaggi, legendary figures in the American fashion press, were among his most fervent admirers. The gilded European youth, enamored with discovery and comfort, were crazy for these colorful knits and made the brand their flagship; today the second generation of Missonis, born in the 50s, has taken over. Bright prints and colorful zigzags are at the heart of the creative process for Angela in ready-to-wear and Margherita in accessories.
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