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.
$4,580Sale Price / item|20% Off
Pop Missoni Sofa by Piero Lissoni
By Kartell, Missoni, Piero Lissoni
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Pop is the modular sofa with double cushion on the seat and armrests, making it soft, enveloping and even more comfortable. The armchair is also enhanced with side cushions, giving...
Fabric, Plastic
$6,362Sale Price / item|20% Off
Pop Missoni Sofa 3 Seats by Piero Lissoni
By Piero Lissoni, Kartell, Missoni
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Pop is the modular sofa with double cushion on the seat and armrests, making it soft, enveloping and even more comfortable. The armchair is also enhanced with side cushions, giving...
Fabric, Plastic
$2,539Sale Price / item|20% Off
Pop Duo Missoni Armchair by Piero Lissoni
By Kartell, Missoni, Piero Lissoni
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Pop is the modular sofa with double cushion on the seat and armrests, making it soft, enveloping and even more comfortable. The armchair is also enhanced with side cushions, giving...
Fabric, Plastic
$28,400 / set
H 7.49 in W 37.41 in D 37.41 in
Le Mah Jong Modular Sofa Hans Hopfer Roche Bobois Missoni Silk Velvet, Corduroy
By Roche Bobois, Hans Hopfer, Missoni
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Mah Jong modular sofa set by Hans Hopfer, designed in 1971 for Roche Bobois and in a current customized mix of textiles from Sonia Rykiel and the house of Missoni. Features multiple cushions that can be arranged in endless number of ways Mix and match and stack (or don’t) at your leisure! This set includes four square cushions (paprika, orchid, crimson and stripes) as well as two adjustable height straight backs (purple corduroy and floral). Also included are a set of 5 Missoni cushions...
Silk, Velvet
$4,963
H 25.6 in W 63 in D 37.41 in
Sacco Sofa by Piero Gatti, Cesare Paolini, Franco Teodoro for Zanotta, Italy
By Afra & Tobia Scarpa, Mario Bellini
Located in Lewes, East Sussex
Rare two-seat Sacco Sofa by Piero Gatti, Cesare Paolini, Franco Teodoro for Zanotta, Italy. Newly upholstered in pure Alpaca wool fabric. Fast shipping worldwide.
Fabric
$11,250
H 27.5 in W 122 in D 35.5 in
Piero Lissoni for Cassina Mex Cube 271 3-Seater Sofa in Elmosoft Saddle Brown
By Piero Lissoni, Cassina
Located in Seattle, WA
A rare and illusive Mex Cube 271 extra wide three-seater sofa, down-filled cushions, completely reupholstered in Elmo-soft Saddle Brown leather. Designed and went into production by ...
Metal
$17,590Sale Price / item|10% Off
H 78.75 in W 90.5 in D 36 in
'Suspension' Seat in the Style of Pierre Chareau
By Pierre Chareau, Maison Paname
Located in Glendale, CA
'Suspension' Seat in the Style of Pierre Chareau Handcrafted in Los Angeles in the workshop of noted French designer and antiques dealer Denis de le Mesiere...
Steel
Piero Lissoni per Kartell Poltrona Letto "Trix, Italia 2000s
By Piero Lissoni, Kartell
Located in Naples, IT
Divano letto Trix bianco di Piero Lissoni per Kartell composto da tre diversi elementi collegati da un elegante sistema di elastici in grado di trasformarsi e adattarsi a diversi u...
Fabric, Plastic
$27,123
H 59.06 in W 70.08 in D 70.08 in
Sunball Chair by Günter Ferdinand Ris and Herbert Selldorf for Rosenthal, 1969
By Rosenthal, Herbert Selldorf, Günter Ferdinand Ris
Located in ABCOUDE, UT
One of only 50 ever produced sunball chairs by Günter Ferdinand Ris and Herbert Selldorf for Rosenthal, 1969. This particular one has water resisting up...
Metal
Knoll Matic Compact Sofa by Piero Lissoni
By Piero Lissoni, Knoll
Located in Basildon, London
Introducing the Matic Compact Sofa by Knoll - a refined fusion of modern design and luxurious comfort. Crafted with high quality materials, this sleek sofa features a sturdy frame an...
Aluminum
$6,195 / item
H 34.65 in W 57.09 in D 29.53 in
Art Deco Loveseat Lisboa Sofa Blue Velvet Gold Leaf Handmade Portugal Greenapple
By Greenapple, GF Modern
Located in Lisboa, PT
Lisboa Sofa, Modern Collection, Handcrafted in Portugal - Europe by GF Modern. The Lisboa loveseat adds a sophisticated and refined touch to any living area. The sofa is upholstered in dark blue velvet...
Gold Leaf
Piero Lissoni for Cassina model "Mex" three-seater sofa
By Piero Lissoni, Cassina
Located in Firenze, FI
Rare Cassina three-seater sofa model Mex seat 715 designed and produced by CASSINA in limited edition. This particular sofa was made to order in 2007. Entirely removable cover. Goos...
Metal
$34,595 / item
H 32.68 in W 51.19 in D 49.22 in
So Disco Modern 70's Inspired Ceramic Leg & Boucle' Lounge Chair by Egg Designs
By Egg Designs
Located in Bothas Hill, KZN
The So Disco lounge chair is part of the So Disco collection designed by Egg Designs and manufactured by a group of artisan in small batch productio...
Upholstery, Ceramic, Bouclé, Walnut
'Plastics, by Piero Lissoni for Kartell
By Piero Lissoni, Kartell
Located in Athens, Attiki
Minimalistic and sleek design by Piero Lissoni for Kartell. 3 modular leather pieces that can be combined according to one's needs.
Leather, Plastic
$3,500 / item
H 27.17 in W 29.53 in D 36.23 in
Walnut Timber, Rattan and Linen Livingston Lounge Chair
By Egg Designs
Located in Bothas Hill, KZN
The livingston lounge chair is part of the Tala collection designed by Egg Designs and manufactured in South Africa. This Modern style lounge chair has a solid Walnut timber frame...
Brass
Mah Jong lounge chair in Missooni fabric, Roche Bobois
By Missoni, Roche Bobois
Located in amstelveen, NL
Roche Bobois Mah lounge chair/chaise lounge. Upper cushion by Missoni. This Mah Jong Chair brings iconic design into any space. Upholstered in Missoni’s signature woven fabric, it ...
Cotton, Velvet
1980s Postmodern Lounge Chairs - Set of 2
By Missoni
Located in Miami, FL
Vintage 1980s, pair of postmodern lounge chairs, reupholstered in a beautifully stitched linen fabric. The varying earth tone colors of the fabric add a unique and cool vibe to any s...
Linen
Sold
H 7.49 in W 37.41 in D 37.41 in
Le Mah Jong Modular Missoni Multi Color Daybed, Ottoman, Roche Bobois, 2015
By Missoni, Roche Bobois, Hans Hopfer
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Le Mah Jong Modular Missoni multi color daybed, Ottoman, Roche Bobois, 2015. Mah-Jong modular sofa set by Hans Hopfer, designed in 1971...
Silk, Velvet
Sold
H 7.49 in W 37.41 in D 37.41 in
Le Mah Jong Modular Missoni Multi Color Lounge Chair Ottoman, Roche Bobois, 2015
By Roche Bobois, Hans Hopfer, Missoni
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Mah-Jong modular sofa set by Hans Hopfer, designed in 1971 for Roche Bobois and a textile from the house of Missoni. This listing is for a set of two mah Jong elements as follows: a ...
Silk, Velvet
Sold
H 7.49 in W 37.41 in D 37.41 in
Le Mah Jong Modular Sofa, Missoni Lounge Chair and Ottoman, Roche Bobois, 2015
By Missoni, Hans Hopfer, Roche Bobois
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Mah-Jong modular sofa set by Hans Hopfer, designed in 1971 for Roche Bobois and a textile from the house of Missoni. This listing is for a set of two mah Jong elements as follows: a ...
Silk, Velvet
Sold
H 7.49 in W 37.41 in D 37.41 in
Le Mah Jong Modular Element Pair, Missoni Corner Lounge Chair, Roche Bobois 2015
By Missoni, Hans Hopfer, Roche Bobois
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Mah-Jong modular sofa set by Hans Hopfer, designed in 1971 for Roche Bobois and a textile from the house of Missoni. This listing is for a set of two mah Jong elements as follows: a ...
Silk, Velvet
Sold
H 7.49 in W 37.41 in D 37.41 in
Le Mah Jong Modular Sofa Element Pair, Missoni Lounge Chair, Roche Bobois, 2015
By Missoni, Hans Hopfer, Roche Bobois
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Mah-Jong modular sofa set by Hans Hopfer, designed in 1971 for Roche Bobois and a textile from the house of Missoni. This listing is for a set of two mah Jong elements as follows: a ...
Silk, Velvet
Sold
H 7.49 in W 37.41 in D 37.41 in
Le Mah Jong Modular Sofa Element Pair, Missoni Lounge Chair, Roche Bobois, 2015
By Missoni, Hans Hopfer, Roche Bobois
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Mah-Jong modular sofa set by Hans Hopfer, designed in 1971 for Roche Bobois and a textile from the house of Missoni. This listing is for a set of two mah Jong elements as follows: a ...
Silk, Velvet
Sold
H 7.49 in W 37.41 in D 37.41 in
Le Mah Jong Modular Sofa Element Set, Missoni Lounge Chair, Roche Bobois, 2015
By Missoni, Hans Hopfer, Roche Bobois
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Mah-Jong modular sofa set by Hans Hopfer, designed in 1971 for Roche Bobois and a textile from the house of Missoni. This listing is for a set of two mah Jong elements as follows: a ...
Silk, Velvet
Sold
H 7.49 in W 37.41 in D 37.41 in
Le Mah Jong Modular Sofa Element Set, Missoni Lounge Chair, Roche Bobois, 2014
By Missoni, Hans Hopfer, Roche Bobois
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Mah-Jong modular sofa set by Hans Hopfer, designed in 1971 for Roche Bobois and a textile from the house of Missoni. This listing is for a set of four mah Jong elements as follows: t...
Silk, Velvet
Sold
H 7.49 in W 37.41 in D 37.41 in
Le Mah Jong Modular Sofa Element Set, Missoni Lounge Chair, Roche Bobois, 2014
By Roche Bobois, Hans Hopfer, Missoni
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Mah-Jong modular sofa set by Hans Hopfer, designed in 1971 for Roche Bobois and a textile from the house of Missoni. This listing is for a set of two mah Jong elements as follows: a ...
Silk, Velvet
Sold
H 7.49 in W 37.41 in D 37.41 in
Le Mah Jong Modular Lounge Chair Roche Bobois Missoni Silk Velvet Modern Cushion
By Roche Bobois, Hans Hopfer, Missoni
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Mah-Jong modular sofa set by Hans Hopfer, designed in 1971 for Roche Bobois and in a current customized mix of textiles from the house of Missoni Hopfer’s Mah Jong is one of the most...
Silk, Velvet