Brand history and zigzag - Missoni pattern

For Missoni, the main two components are color and material. “We have always looked for harmony not in forms, but in fabrics,” says Ottavio Missoni.

The Missoni brand is characterized by a colorful pattern - Missoni zigzag. How did such an interesting print come about, which has not gone out of fashion for many years and adorns Missoni's knitwear? Everything turned out to be quite simple. When Ottavio and Rosita started their business, only smooth or striped fabrics could be created in their workshop. Later, when they bought an embroidery machine, they diversified the print and made zigzag patterns. But besides the zigzag, Missoni's products are also recognized by their perfectly smooth and flawless seams.

Missoni Zigzag Patterns

How the Missoni brand began history
The founder of the company, Ottavio, was very fond of sports, was engaged in track and field athletics. He managed to win more than one sports award. He was an international athlete. But the Second World War began, and twenty-year-old Ottavio had to postpone his dreams of further achievements in sports. Ottavio Missoni went to the army. War - army - captivity, in which he spent four years. Missoni participated in the Battle of El Alamein and was captured by the Allies. He spent the next four years in a POW camp in Egypt. But, unlike many others who came to the front at the beginning of the war, he managed to return safe and sound.

Ottavio and Rosita Missoni with children - Angela and Vittorio

In 1946 he returned to Italy, to Trieste. Young and energetic Ottavio, after many years of trials, begins his studies at the Oberdan Lyceum. And in 1947, together with his friend Giorgio, he opened a workshop for sewing woolen sports uniforms.

The whole Missoni family

The first line became the basis for the official uniform of the Italian national team at the Olympic Games in London. In this form, Ottavio himself successfully continued to play sports. And not only. He won the 400-meter hurdles race. Then he met his Rosita and they got married. And the young wife took an active part in helping Ottavio.

Rosita Jelmini was the heiress of a factory for the production of embroidered fabrics and scarves, so she was familiar with what Ottavio was doing. In the early 1950s, they set up a small knitwear workshop. The Milano Simpathy collection, created for the department store La Rinacsente in 1958, brought them success and fame.

Missoni became interested in the stylist and editor of Arianna magazine Anna Piaggia, and then the French stylists, which led the couple to collaborate and create new collections. Young designers were invited to show their collections, where they met interesting people who contributed to the success of the Missoni family. Thanks to the patronage of American Vogue editor Diana Vreeland, Missoni opened their first boutique in the United States at Bloomingdales.

In 1966, the Missoni brand was officially registered. And since that time, things have gone more and more successfully. In 1969, Missoni founded the first factory and gained fame as the best knitwear in the world, which blended into the realm of haute couture. The assortment of Missoni knitwear is being replenished with new fabrics and patterns. Designers draw many colors and prints from ethnic motives of the peoples of South America and Africa. In 1976 they opened a boutique in Milan. Missoni jersey samples have repeatedly become part of the collection at the Museum of Costume in Bath and the Metropolitan of Art collection in New York.

In 1979, Ottavio Missoni was awarded the Medal of Civil Service, and in 1986, the Order of Service to the Italian Republic.

Ottavio then became interested in other projects such as the creation of theatrical costumes, carpets, tapestries, bedding fabrics and curtain fabrics.

Ottavio and Rosita remained at the head of the company for a long time.Now their daughter Angela has become the creative director, and Vittorio's son has become the commercial director. Son Luca is in charge of men's collections. Rosita herself helps to create new designs for fabrics, she loves interior design, in which her brother Alberto helps her. Together they are engaged in the Missoni Home line, as we would say - "everything for the home, everything for the family." And this once again speaks of how close-knit and friendly Missoni family is. True, as Alberto says, you have to argue with your sister, to prove your ideas ... because they are both professionals in the field of material design and of course complement each other. Margherita, daughter of Angela, is in charge of accessories. They all make up a family that lives by work and sees happiness and satisfaction in it. This is the origin of the quality products that delight millions of Missoni fans.

They remain true to the classic principles and traditions of the Missoni brand, emphasize the limitless possibilities of knitwear, renew and improve their product range, attracting a new generation. The unique style of Missoni, which has existed since the first days of the brand's creation, makes it easily recognizable and popular. The Missoni company is still one of the leaders in the fashion industry. What is the secret of success? The secret is quite simple. For all family members, the world of fashion is a fascinating and wonderful world, in which there are so many opportunities for creative self-realization, at the same time it is both a business and, in fact, their way of life.

Today, the Missoni brand produces, in addition to men's, women's and sportswear, textile fabrics for the home (Missoni Home), which, of course, with a zigzag pattern, furniture, fragrances. And in 2005 the Missoni brand began to cooperate with the Rezidor SAS company. Hotels appeared in Kuwait, Dubai and Edinburgh.

Missoni fans include Julia Roberts, Jennifer Lopez, Nicole Kidman, Sharon Stone, Alain Delon and many others. Drew Barrymore - 2006, Leighton Meester - 2011 became the face of the brand.

Not so long ago, a Spanish artist created a five-meter copy of Michelangelo's David statue for Madrid Fashions Night Out 2012. But what does she have to do with the Missoni family? Everything is very simple - the statue of David was dressed in clothes made of fabric with a zigzag pattern. For a while, the statue surprised the inhabitants of Spain, and then New York. The Istria of the Missoni brand continues, and in the future we will see many more beautiful pieces decorated with zigzag patterns.