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.
$7,953 / item
Pop Missoni Sofa 3 Seats 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
$5,726 / item
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
$3,174 / item
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
$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
$3,500 / set
H 29.53 in W 98.43 in D 35.44 in
Large 3-seater sofa by Piero Lissoni, model Met, Cassina, circa 1996
By Piero Lissoni
Located in VILLEURBANNE, FR
Large model Met sofa designed by Piero Lissoni in the 1990s and produced by Cassina in Italy. The internal wooden frame is padded with high-density foam and fully upholstered in s...
Leather
$26,374
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
$4,905
H 25.6 in W 63 in D 37.41 in
Sacco Sofa by Piero Gatti, Cesare Paolini, Franco Teodoro for Zanotta, Italy
By Mario Bellini, Afra & Tobia Scarpa
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
$6,036 / 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
'Plastics, by Piero Lissoni for Kartell
By Kartell, Piero Lissoni
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
Knoll Matic Compact Sofa by Piero Lissoni
By Knoll, Piero Lissoni
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
$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
$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
Piero Lissoni for Cassina model "Mex" three-seater sofa
By Cassina, Piero Lissoni
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
$4,118
H 24.81 in W 53.55 in D 41.34 in
Frigerio Salotti Modell Cooper Loveseat Armchair Leather Chair Cognac
By Frigerio
Located in Munich, Bavaria
Frigerio leather armchair Modell Cooper that is also a loveseat. The sizes of this Modell Cooper is medium with depth of 103 cm. Featuring maximum softness, the Cooper armchair...
Leather, Upholstery, Wood
$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
Sold
H 20.87 in W 74.81 in D 37.41 in
Mah Jong Modular Sofa Hans Hopfer Roche Bobois Missoni Tulip Floral Loveseat Set
By Hans Hopfer, Missoni, Roche Bobois
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Mah Jong Modular sofa Hans Hopfer Roche Bobois Missoni Tulip Floral loveseat set. Extremely rare in Missoni’s iconic ‘Jersey’ print in the “beige"...
Textile
Saporiti Italia "Confidential" Two-Seat Sofa by Alberto Rosselli
By Missoni, Saporiti, Alberto Rosselli Saporiti
Located in Rochester, NY
A matched pair of Saporiti Italia "Confidential" two-seat sofas in original Missoni fabric designed by Alberto Rosselli, circa 1970s ***** PLEASE LOOK AT PICTURES 7 & 8 SHOW COLOR OF...