In 1953, Ottavio “Tai” Missoni (1921–2013) and Rosita Missoni (b. 1931) opened a small knitwear shop in Gallarate, Italy, paving the way for what would become an iconic style of colorful chevron knit.
Missoni began with a tracksuit, which featured zippers down the legs because, as Rosita recalls it, “Tai was too lazy to take off his shoes when putting them on.” The couple’s fashion really took off, though, once they discovered the Raschel knitting machine on a trip to a shawl factory. The machine enabled the Missonis to knit multiple colors in a zigzag pattern, a motif that would go on to become synonymous with the Missoni brand across everything from its alluring vintage day dresses and sweaters to its purses, seating and rugs.
Missoni held its first fashion show in Florence in 1967 and caused a bit of a sensation when the models’ Lurex dresses proved translucent under the lights at the Pitti Palace. Scandal aside, the show went down in history as a hit, and the Missonis soon made their debut in the United States with the help of legendary fashion editor Diana Vreeland, who gave the variegated Missoni stripe the Vogue seal of approval, saying, “Who says a rainbow has seven colors? It has many shades.” (It was also Vreeland who reportedly introduced the Missonis to Neiman Marcus president Stanley Marcus, effectively shepherding the brand to the American market.)
Missoni’s many-shaded rainbow would soon become an emblem of the 1970s fashion scene, earning the brand a permanent place in the fashion canon. In 1973, the New York Times proclaimed: “Missoni’s weaved garments have ended up universal materialistic trifles, as Vuitton sacks and Gucci shoes.”
The brand branched into the home market in 1983, with Rosita overseeing this new venture, Missoni Home, which included furniture, textiles and accessories. Daughter Angela succeeded her mother at the helm of the brand, where she served as creative director until 2021 and is currently president; her brother Luca is CEO, while her daughter Margherita was creative director of M Missoni, a modestly priced offshoot that was discontinued in 2021.
Find vintage Missoni clothing and accessories today on 1stDibs.
$157Sale Price|20% Off
70s- early 80s Missoni 3-Piece Desk Set Pen, Mechanical Pencil, Letter Opener
By Angela Missoni, Missoni
Located in London, GB
A rare and collectible piece of Italian design history, this complete Missoni-branded three-piece desk set dates from the late 1970s to early 1980s. The set includes a ballpoint pen...
Louis Vuitton Brown Damier Print Agenda
By Louis Vuitton
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Louis Vuitton Brown Damier Print Agenda/Planner. Featuring the iconic Damier print in brown, gold hardware and accompanied by gold pen. Planner is for the...
1970s Gucci Pewter Mini Sparrow Votive Holder Desk Accessory
By Gucci
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Presenting a miniature votive holder/trinket bowl by Gucci in the 1970s. In the form of a small sparrow, this piece is made of heavy silver-toned metal a...
Late 19th-Century Antique Oval Spectacles with Original Patinated Leather Case
Located in Honolulu, HI
An exquisite example of antique optical design, likely dating from the late Victorian to Edwardian period, this rare set of antique spectacles embodies the refined elegance and under...
$375
W 0.6 in L 5.39 in
Montblanc Meisterstuck Classique Gold Gilt Black Resin Ballpoint Pen w InkRefill
By Montblanc
Located in Chicago, IL
The best-known writing instrument of all Montblanc collections, this Meisterstuck Classique features six gilt rings and a clip on the black resin rollerball pen with a pull-off cap, ...
Hermes Black Leather Cover Diary
By Hermès
Located in Paris, FR
Hermes black leather cover diary featuring a lizard effect, foldover rectangular shape, inside pockets, and an inside Hermes signature. Circa 2000s In good vintage condition. Made i...
HERMES Vintage Stirrup Silver Money Clip
By Hermès
Located in Nice, FR
HERMES vintage silver money clip featuring a stirrup. Embossed HERMES. French silver crab hallmark. Indicative measurements : max. length approx. 5...
Hermes Burgundy Large Box Leather Notebook Cover
By Hermès
Located in Paris, FR
Hermes Burgundy Large Box leather notebook cover featuring contrasted stitching, internal logo stamp, gold-tone hardware. Circa 1980s In good vintage condition. Made in France. Len...
Hermes Change Tray Etoupe NEW In Box
By Hermès
Located in New York, NY
Hermes change tray with perforated Evelyn H. Beautifully crafted featuring Etoupe in Clemence leather. Nickeled clou de selle snaps. A beautiful des...
Hermes Samarcande Paperweight Terracotta Lacquered Wood
By Hermès
Located in Miami, FL
Mightychic offers an Hermes Samarcnade paperweight featured in Terracotta lacquered wood. Crafted in layers of hand lacquered wood, and sanded to reveal the beauty of the colour. This exquisite paperweight can serve as a stand alone. No longer produced in the lacquered finish. Leather base stamped...
$913Sale Price|20% Off
H 2.37 in D 0.79 in Dm 1.58 in
S.T. Dupont 1970s Gold Plated Guilloche Model 1 Vintage Lighter in Box
By S.T. Dupont
Located in VALLADOLID, ES
Beautiful Vintage Lighter, 1970s-1975s, S.T. Dupont Gold Plated, Guilloche Model 1. This is a French S.T. Dupont lighter, model 1, with a 20-micron gold finish and a vertical guilloc...
$687
H 5.12 in W 0.4 in D 0.4 in Dm 0.4 in
Montblanc Meisterstuck nº12 fountain pen, black resin and gold plating, 90's
By Montblanc
Located in VALLADOLID, ES
Fountain pen from the German brand Montblanc. 1990s, Meisterstück No. 12 model in black resin with gold-plated details, such as the clip. The cap snaps shut. The lower ring of the ca...
Hermes Culbuto Sellier Rollerball Pen Gold Barenia Leather New
By Hermès
Located in Miami, FL
Mightychic offers an Hermes Culbuto Sellier Rollerball Pen featured in Fauve Barenia calfskin. Palladium plated. Has a specific pressurized refill blue ink refill. Marvelous self bal...