Rosita Missoni, famed for iconic zigzag knitwear, dies aged 93

Rosita Missoni, the matriarch of the famed Italian fashion house that transformed colourful zigzag-patterned knitwear into high fashion and helped shape the Italian ready-to-wear industry, has died at the age of 93.

Missoni passed away peacefully on Wednesday (1 January), as confirmed by a joint statement from Missoni SpA and the Missoni family.

Local officials in Gallarate, the northern town where the Missoni brand was born in 1953, paid tribute to the fashion icon on Thursday, recalling her deep connection to the community.

Born Rosita Jelmini, Missoni was raised in a family that owned a textile factory producing shawls. She met Ottavio Missoni, and together they founded the Missoni brand in Gallarate. Their fashion house would go on to become a global dynasty, with their three children and later their grandchildren taking key roles in expanding the brand.

The Missonis received their first big break in 1958 when the Rinascente department store ordered 500 colourful vertically striped shirt dresses, later showcasing their first collection in Milan in 1966 – and playing a key role in elevating the city to its status as a global fashion capital.

Missoni’s signature zigzag designs became synonymous with wearability and timeless style, enduring across seasons and trends. The Missoni family often served as models for their own creations, wearing the brand’s graphic designs in everyday life.

The couple handed over the reins of the business to their children in 1997, though Rosita remained involved with the Missoni home collection.

The family endured a difficult period in 2013, facing two devastating losses. Vittorio Missoni, the eldest son and CEO of the company, tragically died in a plane crash off the coast of Venezuela.  It took six months to find the wreckage of the plane in the waters off the South American coast, during which time the family patriarch, Ottavio Missoni, also passed away at the age of 92.

In 2018, the family sold a 41.2% stake in the company to the Italian investment fund FSI but retained majority control. Three years later, Angela Missoni, the youngest daughter, stepped down as creative director after 24 years at the helm.