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.
1980s Gorgeous Geometric Italian Woolen Rug by Missoni for T&J Vestor
By Ottavio Missoni
Located in Milano, IT
1980s Missoni "Luxor" rug, elevate your interior with a masterpiece of postmodern textile art (Postmodern / Memphis Milano Era). This spectacular rug called "Luxor" was designed in ...
Wool
1980s Italian Woven Pure Wool "Optic" Rug Ottavio Missoni for T&J Vestor
By Ottavio Missoni
Located in Firenze, FI
Ottavio Missoni "Optic" vintage rug made in the 80s in pure virgin wool by the company T&J Vestor, founded in 1921 by Rosita Missoni, and now acquired by "Missoni Home". The "OPTIC" ...
Wool
1980s Italian Woven Pure Wool "Arlequine" Rug Ottavio Missoni for T&J Vestor
By Ottavio Missoni
Located in Firenze, FI
Ottavio Missoni "Arlequine" vintage rug made in the 80s in pure virgin wool by the company T&J Vestor, founded in 1921 by Rosita Missoni, and now acquired by Missoni Home. This beaut...
Wool
Vintage Hand-Knotted Rug, model "Orion" designed by Ottavio Missoni for Missoni
By Ottavio Missoni, Missoni
Located in Beograd, RS
In this listing you will find a breathtaking postmodern rug designed by Ottavio Missoni for Missoni. Model "Orion" is an iconic piece designed as a patc...
Wool
Rug, design by Ottavio MISSONI for SAPORITI. Italy, 70s
By Saporiti, Ottavio Missoni
Located in Torino, IT
Carpet, design by Ottavio MISSONI for SAPORITI. ORIGIN Italy PERIOD 70s/80s DESIGNER Octavius MISSONI MARK Saporiti MATERIALS Fabrics DIMENSIONS 240 x 240 cm CONDITIONS Perfet...
Fabric
$3,800Sale Price|46% Off
Missoni tapestry in wool signed Giorgio Saporiti '93
By Giorgio Saporiti, Ottavio Missoni
Located in Firenze, FI
Missoni tapestry, made by Giorgio Saporiti in 1993, as reported by the signature on the back. The design features a geometric pattern of repeated square blocks. The dominant colors...
Wool
Missoni wool rug for T & J Vestor Italia - 1980s
By Ottavio Missoni
Located in Firenze, FI
Ottavio Missoni carpet with geometric design inspired by the chevron pattern, very characteristic of his style. Carpet from the 1980s made of wool by the T & J Vestor company. Chevr...
Wool
Ottavio Missoni Limited Edition Geometric Rug for Missoni Home
By Missoni, Ottavio Missoni
Located in Conversano, IT
Stunning and rare "Orion T101" rug from the original Missoni Home Arazzi Patchwork collection, designed by Ottavio Missoni in 1991. Handcrafted in Italy from pure virgin wool, this limited-edition piece features complex, multicolored geometric motifs that embody Missoni's signature aesthetic. The design is completed by Missoni's iconic woven signature, marking it as an original collector's item. This particular colorway is extremely rare, distinguishing it from other known versions and vastly superior to recent Missoni rugs not made in Italy. This piece is in very good vintage condition with minimal wear on two corners, not affecting its beauty or integrity. One of the rarest color versions of this design, handmade in Italy. Dimensions Length: 234 cm (92.1 in) Width: 166 cm (65.4 in) Keywords: Missoni Home Rug 1991 - Ottavio Missoni Patchwork Carpet - Vintage Italian Designer Rug - Geometric Wool Rug Missoni...
Wool
1980s wool Missoni rug, Italy
By Ottavio Missoni, Missoni Home
Located in Firenze, FI
This carpet by Ottavio Missoni with measures 235 cm. x 166 cm. is pure wool in the 1980s. It features a harmonious combination of light blue, yellow and brown hues, evoking a vibra...
Wool
1980s Gorgeous Geometric Italian Woolen Rug by Missoni for T&J Vestor
By Ottavio Missoni
Located in Milano, IT
1980s Gorgeous rug by Missoni for T&J Vestor. Pure wool Made in Italy. In excellent condition like new. Signed at the bottom. This rug is a true example of amazing Italian design. It...
Wool
"Mandarin" carpet by Ottavio Missoni for T&J Vestor, Italy 1980s
By Ottavio Missoni
Located in Firenze, FI
This rug designed by Ottavio Missoni for T&J Vestor has dimensions: 240 cm. X 168 cm. It is a worked rectangular carpet wool with a polychromatic floral pattern. Of great decorative...
Wool
1990s Geometric Woolen Rug by Ottavio Missoni, Italian Design
By Ottavio Missoni
Located in Milano, IT
1990s Gorgeous woolen rug by Ottavio Missoni with geometric motifs. Made in Italy. It's in excellent condition like new, and is a true example of amazing Italian design. It has been ...
Wool
Ottavio Missoni "Rosita" rug produced by T&J Vestor Italia 1980s
By Ottavio Missoni
Located in Firenze, FI
This rug is a fine example of Ottavio Missoni's signature artistic design, made in the 1980s from pure virgin wool by the T&J Vestor company, founded in 1921 by Rosita Missoni. The ...
Wool
Italian modern virgin wool carpet geometric pattern by Missoni, T&J Vestor 1980
By Ottavio Missoni
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern colored virgin wool carpet with geometric pattern by Missoni for T&J Vestor, produced in 1980s. Rectangular carpet, in virgin wool, with a geometric pattern in differe...
Wool
$5,344
W 60.24 in L 103.55 in
Stunning Rare Original Vintage Missoni Rug In Pure Wool *FREE WORLDWIDE DELIVERY
By Missoni
Located in Portlaoise, IE
This stunning rare original rug dates from 1989 and has the Missoni signature and date woven into the corner. In pure wool and full of colour and geometric patterns it is certain to ...
Wool
Stunning Vintage Missoni Rug By T &J Vestor in Pure Wool *Free Shipping
By Missoni
Located in Portlaoise, IE
Stunning geometric patterned vintage Missoni wool rug by T & J Vestor. Bearing the original Missoni labels to the side and underneath. An exquisite rug presented in superb vintage co...
Wool
Original Woolen Rug Designed by Verner Panton for Desso, Holland 1970s
By Desso, Verner Panton
Located in Beograd, RS
In this listing you will find an original vintage rug design by Verner Panton for Desso in the mid 1970s. The rug is part of the Romatica collect...
Wool
Rug designed by Sofia Rostad for Louis De Poortere , 1970s.
By Zofia Butrymowicz
Located in Arezzo, Italy
Large 'art rug with colorful geometric patterns designed by Sofia Rostad for Louis De Poortere , 1970s. Composition: 100% polyamide, made in Belgium. Excellent condition, in shades ...
Nylon
Tisca Modernist Hand-Tufted Wool Rug France 1980s
By Tisca Tischhauser 1
Located in Debrecen, HU
This distinctive Tisca wool rug was produced in the French Tisca workshops during the 1980s, a period when the company supplied high-quality architectural textiles for modern interio...
Wool
$10,409 / item
W 137.8 in L 100.4 in
Patricia Urquiola Rigadino Large Wool Rug by Cassina, Italian Design
By Patricia Urquiola, Cassina
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Patricia Urquiola Rigadino Large Rug Manufactured by Cassina NONCONFORMIST ELEGANCE With Rigadino, Patricia Urquiola designs a contribution of nonconformist elegance inspired by h...
Wool
Antique Signed French Jean-Baptiste Deshays Pictorial Tapestry
Located in Long Island City, NY
Made with handwoven wool, this 12x18 antique French Beauvais tapestry represents an iconic museum-quality addition to Rug & Kilim's Tapestry Collection—an extremely collectible a...
Wool
Op Art Tapestry in Black and White Wool Dutch 1960s
Located in London, GB
Black and white Op Art design with flowing lines, hand tufted high pile wool carpet of wall rug by van den Brink & Kampman 1960s. It’s an extraordinary true work of abstract art tha...
Wool
$9,500
H 79.14 in W 60.24 in D 0.3 in
Antique French Tapestry Verdure Signed 1880 Wool & Silk 5x7 153cm x 201cm
Located in New York, NY
Antique French Tapestry Verdure Signed Wool & Silk A magnificent antique French tapestry depicting a castle amongst a river, verdure, and exotic birds. Beautiful colorway, and an ea...
Wool
Missoni carpet for T&J Vestor
By Missoni
Located in Milano, IT
Large wool carpet featuring designs by the renowned fashion house Missoni, founded by Ottavio Missoni, for T&J Vestor, a company specializing in manufacturing for prominent fashion b...
Wool
Missoni Post-Modern Striped Rug, circa 1980, Italy, Signed
By Missoni Home, Missoni
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Attention interior designers, this is the large rug you need for that high-profile cover-worthy room you're working on. This signed Missoni rug is from the 1980s Italy and in an oh-s...
Wool
Vintage Italian Design Rug by Lyda Levi, Milan 1960s
Located in Milan, IT
Lyda Levi (1922-2011) was a leading figure of the post World War II Milanese design movement. In 1946 she collaborated in organising the prestigious 8th edition of Milan’s Triennale ...
Wool
Pair of Italian postmodern rug by Ottavio MiSSONI Mod. Rosita
By Ottavio Missoni, Missoni
Located in Milano, IT
Pair of Italian Postmodern Missoni 1980s Rugs - Geometric Design and Vibrant Colors, model Rosita. Explore the iconic aesthetic of the 1980s with these postmodern Italian rugs by Mis...
Wool
Ottavio Missoni's Geometrical Wool Carpet, Italy 1980s
By Ottavio Missoni
Located in Naples, IT
Vintage Missoni rug made of pure virgin wool with geometric patterns forming squares in bright and warm colors. It is an object of high quality and refinement, ideal for giving elega...
Wool
1980s Gorgeous Geometric Italian Woolen Rug by Missoni for T&J Vestor
By Ottavio Missoni
Located in Puglia, Puglia
This vintage Ottavio Missoni carpet was made in the 1980s in pure virgin wool by the T&J Vestor company, founded in 1921 by Rosita Missoni, and now acquired by Missoni Home. this bea...
Wool
1980s Italian Woven Pure Wool Vintage Rug Ottavio Missoni for T&J Vestor
By Ottavio Missoni
Located in Firenze, FI
This Ottavio Missoni vintage rug was made in the 80s in pure virgin wool by the company T&J Vestor, founded in 1921 by Rosita Missoni, and now acquired by Missoni Home. thi beautiful optical rug...
Wool
1980s Italian Woven Pure Wool "Luxor" Rug Ottavio Missoni for T&J Vestor
By Ottavio Missoni
Located in Firenze, FI
Ottavio Missoni "Luxor" vintage rug made in the 80s in pure virgin wool by the company T&J Vestor, founded in 1921 by Rosita Missoni, and now acquired by Missoni Home. The "Luxor" mo...
Wool
Italian Machine Made Wool Carpet by Ottavio Missoni for T&J Vestor, 1980s
By Ottavio Missoni
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian machine made wool carpet by Ottavio Missoni for T&J Vestor, 1980s Spotted and with small damaged areas. Measures: 235 x 170 cm.
Fabric