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.” By then, Ottavio had been creating tapestries, and some of his knitted fabrics were shown in an exhibition at Galleria Il Naviglio in Venice in 1975.
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 Ottavio Missoni tapestries, rugs and other furniture today on 1stDibs.
Number 3 - Rectangles, Geometric Tapestry Wall Hanging by Ottavio Missoni
By Ottavio Missoni
Located in Long Island City, NY
A woolen tapestry by Missoni circa 1980. Artist: Ottavio Missoni, Italian (1921 - 2013) Title: #3 Year: circa 1980's Medium: Woolen Tapestry Size: 21 in. x 53 in. (53.34 cm x 1...
Wool
Large Ottavio Missoni Wool Tapestry Wall Hanging
By Ottavio Missoni
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Ottavio Missoni, Italian (1921 - 2013) Title: #2 Year: circa 1980's Medium: Woolen Tapestry mounted to support board for hanging Size: 46 in. x 92 in. (116.84 cm x 233.68 cm)
Wool
Three Body Problem : contemporary 3D work of art
Located in New York, NY
Contemporary artwork by New York artist David Rockwell. Oil and 3D printing on stretched canvas and wood frame. Rockwell makes paintings that live on the borders between traditional art practice, design, technology, and science. He enjoys the visual potential inherent in each of these interests; art history as an aggregate of thousands of years of representation, letterforms as brushstrokes of language, layering as a palimpsest of life lived, simple algorithms that give rise to complex forms in nature. Rockwell uses 3D printing to assemble computer modeled surfaces on both canvas and wood panels. Art historical references and figuration share space with pattern, texture and grid systems. This process also enables him to dive deeper through iteration (working in series, recombining elements) so that connections and themes emerge between individual paintings over time. “Three Body Problem...
Canvas, Wood, Oil
$1,276Sale Price|20% Off
H 11.82 in W 11.82 in D 1.19 in
"PaperLandscape"- Abstract Geometric Landscape Painting , Art Made in Italy
By Marilina Marchica
Located in Agrigento, AG
PaperLandscape mixed media and collage on juta canvas 50x50 2017 the painting is part of the Paper Landscape series I like to call them fragile landscapes the title PaperLandscape,...
Enamel
$9,500
H 25.75 in W 55 in D 1.25 in
Summer Holiday, Abstract Geometric Acrylic and Canvas Collage, Red White Blue
By Margo Hoff
Located in Denver, CO
Acrylic and canvas collage on canvas by 20th century artist Margo Hoff (1910-2008). An abstract geometric painting in Margo's signature style of canvas collage, laying bits of canva...
Canvas, Acrylic
$1,495
H 57 in W 57 in
"DALL·E 2023-04-23 11.28.12" Large red and yellow textured, patterned rug
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This piece titled DALL·E 2023-04-23 11.28.12 is a crafted original piece by Tuft the World as part of the inaugural collection of TTW Editions. This piece measures 57"h x 57"w and is...
Wool
$2,400
H 24 in W 24 in D 4 in
Breaking Down, Contemporary Textile Art, Contemporary Art, 21st Century
By Marco Querin
Located in Mexico City, MX
Old constructs finally breaking down, 2020 Contemporary Textile Artwork Wool rowing, silk, Michigan wool, Japanese Cotton 24x24in Signed and dated
Textile, Wool, Cotton, Silk
$6,000Sale Price|30% Off
H 48 in W 34 in D 3.25 in
'Surfacing II, ' by Dragana Milovic, Mixed Media Painting
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
This 48" x 34" mixed media painting, 'Surfacing II,' by Dragana Milovic features an abstracted geometric composition featuring 3d objects adhered to th...
Gold Leaf
$1,365
H 67 in W 45 in
"JxDALL·E 2023 16.49.49 17302" Textured abstract, tufted splatter wall-hanging
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This piece titled "JxDALL·E 2023 16.49.49 17302" is a crafted original piece by Tuft the World as part of the inaugural collection of TTW Editions. This...
Wool
$880
H 50.4 in W 43.3 in
Colorful Indoor Window, Turquoise Constructivist Composition, Textile Art, 2024
Located in Barcelona, ES
This is a beautiful patchwork piece by Zita Chocarro. Her exploration of color plays with form and contrast, as the intersection of the shapes she uses masterfully come together to ...
Fabric
$1,500
H 20.5 in W 54 in D 0.1 in
Untitled Whitney Museum Scarf Color Field Geometric Abstraction Limited Edition
By Kenneth Noland
Located in New York, NY
Kenneth Noland Untitled Whitney Museum Limited Edition Silk Scarf, 1999 Artist designed scarf in colors on 100% Silk in original Whitney Museum packaging with artist's printed name a...
Silk, Screen
$2,600
H 47.25 in W 39.38 in
Acrylic Spray Paint and Marker on Canvas by Prominent Urban Artist - "Journey"
Located in Vilnius, Vilniaus apskr.
“Long Journey” is a new spray paint and marker work on canvas by Ettoja, one of the most prominent illustrators and street art creators in Lithuania (Ukrainian born). This painting ...
Canvas, Cotton Canvas, Acrylic, Spray Paint, Permanent Marker
$450
H 16 in W 16.1 in D 1.4 in
"Moment #29", Mixed Media Artwork, Abstract Geometric, Hand Embellished
Located in San Diego, CA
This is a mixed-media artwork by Monty Montgomery. Its dimensions are 16 x 16.1 x 1.4 and it is Hand Embellished Giclee print on Canvas with UV Gloss Varnish. A certificate of authen...
Canvas, Varnish, Giclée
Abstract Geometric Mixed Media Acrylic on Canvas.
Located in Cotignac, FR
Abstract geometric mixed media painting probably dating from the 1980s. The painting has been created using various mediums to create an interesting texture and form to the rough ca...
Fabric, Canvas, Organic Material, Acrylic
Number 1, Large Woolen Tapestry Wall Art by Missoni
By Ottavio Missoni
Located in Long Island City, NY
A woolen tapestry by Missoni circa 1980. Artist: Ottavio Missoni, Italian (1921 - 2013) Title: #1 Year: circa 1980's Medium: Woolen Tapestry Size: 67 ...
Wool