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 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
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
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
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
Ottavio Missoni Limited Edition Geometric Rug for Missoni Home
By Ottavio Missoni, 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 Missoni Home, Ottavio Missoni
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
$1,280Sale Price|20% Off
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
$3,849Sale 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
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
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
$5,412
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
Marilyn Limited Edition Rug Design by Studio Amebe
By Sitap Carpet Couture
Located in Milan, IT
A captivating tribute to Marilyn Monroe's famous scene from The Seven Year Itch where her dress rises up with the wind from the subway grate below, this stunning limited edition rug ...
Textile
Vintage Wool Rug, circa 1970-1980
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Vintage wool rug, circa 1970-1980.
Wool
MEMPHIS GJS 1 Limited Edition Geometric-Shaped Rug / George J Sowden (Rare)
By George Sowden
Located in Tinton Falls, NJ
This striking & elegant carpet is from a Limited Edition of 36 units (ours is Edition # 5 of 36, hand signed by the artist/designer George J Sowden, one of the original MEMPHIS membe...
Wool
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
Tisca Forster Hand-Tufted Wool Rug – 1980s France
Located in Debrecen, HU
Elevate your interior with this striking vintage Tisca rug, a true masterpiece of 1980s hand-tufted craftsmanship. Measuring approximately 160x240 cm, this rug features an expressive...
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
Artisca "Vermont" Hand-Tufted Wool Rug, France 1970s-1980s
By Tisca Tischhauser 1
Located in Debrecen, HU
This elegant Tisca “Vermont” wool rug represents the sophisticated modern textile design tradition associated with the French-based company Tisca. During the late 20th century the co...
Wool
Vintage Wool Rug, circa 1970-1980
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Vintage wool rug, circa 1970-1980.
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
Chipo Hand-Knotted Rug Designed by Zaven for cc-tapis
By cc-tapis
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Graphic Chipo designed by Zaven Proudly handknotted in Nepal. Quality A 125.000 knots/sqm Himalayan wool.
Wool
Pair of Italian postmodern rug by Ottavio MiSSONI Mod. Rosita
By Missoni, Ottavio 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