Angela & Rosita Missoni 58
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Photography Justin Personnaz
Wearing Missoni
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The Missoni story is better told as a love story. It starts when fashion fan Rosita Jelmini, met olympic athlete, Ottavio Missoni. She was 16, going on 17, a shy Italian girl in London to improve her English. He was 27, a tall, strappingly handsome member of the Italian 400 meters hurdles team at the Games where the world was trying to put the devastation of war behind it. Tai and Rosita soon married and created their first knitwear line of tracksuits. On a visit to a neighboring shawl factory, the duo discovered the versatility of the Raschel knitting machine and the signature multi-colored zig-zag pattern was born. Embodying old-world Italian sensibilities with a modern aesthetic, the Missoni family has stayed true to their carefree Italian roots despite their iconic status. The rhetoric behind the brand has a
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refreshing simplicity that refuses to sacrifice the joys of life. The heart of the Missoni brand has always been family. Angela, Rosita and Tai’s daughter had been drawing for the family business since the age of 18, she became artistic director of the house after twenty years working with her mother. While the company has taken great strides during Angela’s reign, there is continued promise for the family’s next generation. Angela’s daughters Margherita and Teresa have both taken on integral roles within the company. Margherita became the brand’s ambassador at the age of 18 and has since taken charge of Missoni’s accessories and collaborations all while designing her own children’s line. Teresa is designing her own clothing line. “It seems the women of the family hold the fashion eye,” jokes Rosita.
11/5/16 4:55 PM