Rosita Missoni

Rosita Jelmini was born in Golasecca, northern Italy, on 20 November 1931.^[2] She came from a family of textile artisans based in the Milan region specializing in the manufacture of shawls^[3][4]

Rosita met Ottavio Missoni in 1948, when he was participating in the London Olympics,^[5] and they married in 1953.^[3]

In 1953, Rosita and Ottavio started a small knitwear store in Gallarate, which would go on to become the fashion house Missoni. They later moved to Sumirago where they built a factory. They were part of a group of Italian designers whose ready-to-wear clothing became popular globally in the 1950s and 1960s.^[5] The brand became famous for its colorful knitted garments with zigzag patterns, made on "Raschel" machines like those used by Rosita Missoni's family for making shawls.^[5] Rosita Missoni cites Sonia Delaunay as one of her inspirations.^[6]

From 1997, the couple's children, Angela, Luca, and Vittorio Missoni, took over management of the fashion house, sharing the creative and financial aspects,^[5] while Rosita Missoni developed Missoni Home and dedicated herself to interior design by reusing old patterns.^[3]

Rosita and Ottavio had three children, all of whom became involved with the Missoni business; their son, Vittorio Missoni, was CEO until his death in a plane crash in 2013.^[2] Ottavio Missoni died later that year.^[2]

Rosita Missoni continued to live in a house in Sumirago since 1970, which she decorated colourfully and exuberantly, with numerous flea market treasures.^[7] She regularly received journalists there.^[7]

Rosita died from complications of pneumonia at her home in Sumirago, on 1 January 2025, at the age of 93.^[2][8][9]