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.
Tapestry, design by Ottavio MISSONI for SAPORITI. Italy, 70s
By Ottavio Missoni, Saporiti
Located in Torino, IT
Tapestry, design by Ottavio MISSONI for SAPORITI. Italy, 1970s/80s ORIGIN Italy PERIOD 70s/80s DESIGNER Octavius MISSONI MARK Saporiti MATERIALS Fabrics DIMENSIONS Work: 169 x ...
Fabric
Tapestry, design by Ottavio MISSONI for SAPORITI. Italy, 70s
By Ottavio Missoni
Located in Torino, IT
Tapestry, design by Ottavio MISSONI for SAPORITI. ORIGIN Italy PERIOD 70s/80s DESIGNER Octavius MISSONI MARK Saporiti MATERIALS Fabrics DIMENSIONS Work: 51 x 51 cm Frame: 76 x ...
Fabric
$1,933Sale Price|25% Off
Light blue Missoni tapestry for hanging, Italy 1980s
By Ottavio Missoni
Located in Firenze, FI
Arazzo di Ottavio Missoni con il design tipico del suo stile. Characterized by repeated squares with shades of blue. Textures and colors alternate, creating depth and visual dynamis...
Wool
Italian Vintage Tapestry by Missoni, 1980s
By Ottavio Missoni
Located in Renens, CH
Italian collectable tapestry, professionally framed. This piece, considered a work of art has been designed by Ottavio Missoni, (1921 – 2013) during the 1980s. The Missoni enterpris...
Wool, Plywood
Vintage Ottavio Missoni Wall Hanging, Italy c1960s #2
By Ottavio Missoni
Located in Oakland, CA
Absolutely stunning vintage wall hanging by master fashion designer Ottavio Missoni c1960s. These two pieces have been wrapped in paper and stored for the last 60 years. These are fr...
Wool
$29,955Sale Price|33% Off
Missoni Patchwork Tapestry Handmade in 1980 By Ottavio Missoni 8' x 10' RARE
By Missoni, Ottavio Missoni
Located in Long Island, NY
Missoni – Patchwork Tapestry Prototype This Rare Tapestry Patchwork was made by Ottavio Missoni in the early 1980’s for the launch of the Missoni...
Wool
Ottavio Missoni Patchwork in Wool Series Arras, Design in Years ’70 for Saporit
By Ottavio Missoni
Located in Biella, IT
Saporiti Italy production and design Ottavio years '70 first series arras patchwork in wool.
Textile, Wool
$9,900
H 38 in W 70 in D 0.5 in
Vintage Mid-Century Handwoven Tapestry, Schoolgirls Design, Crimson, 38" x 70"
Located in Barrington, IL
This vibrant mid-century handwoven tapestry captures a charming folkloric scene of four schoolgirls dressed in traditional attire, brought to life through a radiant palette of autumnal hues—crimson, golden yellow, burnt orange, and soft lavender. Rich in texture and emotion, the tapestry exudes warmth, storytelling, and nostalgia, making it a captivating example of vintage textile art. Reminiscent of Marc Chagall’s dreamlike murals at the Metropolitan Opera House, the composition masterfully balances expressive color with whimsical charm. Each figure is rendered with a poetic mix of abstraction and detail, lending the piece visual movement and emotional resonance. The artisan wall hanging is a perfect statement piece for mid-century modern interiors, folk art collections, or textile art galleries. Dimensions: 38" x 70" Date of Manufacture: 3rd Quarter of the 1900s Place of Origin: Europe Material: Wool Condition: Excellent The Persian Knot Gallery, SKU: 1733 mid-century tapestry, vintage handwoven wall art...
Wool, Cotton
Vintage Tapestry Wall Hanging Decor Hunting Scene
Located in Barntrup, DE
This colorful vintage tapestry depicts a European hunting scene from the 18th century. It is made from wool and cotton and features four loops for easy hanging. Crafted in Belgium d...
Wool, Cotton
$2,600
H 24 in W 24 in D 0.025 in
Nazmiyal Collection Vintage Missoni Knitted Patchwork Textile 2 ft x 2 ft
Located in New York, NY
Vintage Missoni textile, origin: Scandinavian rugs, circa mid-20th century. Size: 2 ft x 2 ft (0.61 m x 0.61 m) This vintage Missoni textile showcases a fabulous tiled patchwork p...
Wool
$875Sale Price|47% Off
H 54 in W 61 in D 0.25 in
Italian Tapestry, Linen Wall Hanging, Circa 1920s, 54x61 Inches
Located in Douglas Manor, NY
Italian tapestry, circa 1920s.
Linen
French Hanging Tapestry
Located in Swadlincote, GB
A very good French lined hanging tapestry, in very good order throughout. 35" high 54" wide You are welcome to view this item at our showroom, please phone ahead of visiting. Alte...
Wool
Vintage French Scenic Tapestry Wall Hanging, 1950s
Located in Barntrup, DE
This vintage scenic tapestry shows courting couples in an idyllic country setting by a lake, a cherub statue, waterfall. It is made in a soft, light color palette of greens, pinks, a...
Fabric, Tapestry
Vintage French Tapestry by Georgette Owens. Size: 3 ft x 4 ft 10 in
By Georgette Owens
Located in New York, NY
Vintage French Tapestry by Georgette Owens, France, Mid-Twentieth Century. Size: 3 ft x 4 ft 10 in (0.91 m x 1.47 m)
Wool
$328Sale Price|20% Off
H 32.3 in W 19.7 in D 0.1 in
Vintage Swedish Woven Tapestry: Scandinavian Folk Art Wall Hanging
Located in Skarpnäck, SE
Vintage SwedishVintage Swedish Handwoven Wall Hanging “Gubbatäcke” / “Rosengång” — Traditional Folk Art Textile A beautiful vintage Swedish handwoven wall hanging, known as a Gubbat...
Wool, Cotton, Linen
Handwoven Wool Wall Hanging Tapestry
Located in North Miami, FL
This organic and beautiful two-tone hand-woven wool tapestry/ wall art hangs on a custom designed brass rod easily mountable to wall. THIS ITEM IS LOCATED AND WILL SHIP FROM OUR EAS...
Brass
Kennedy Bahia Brazilian Modern Wall Tapestry, 1980s
By Kennedy Bahia
Located in Miami, FL
Woven wall tapestry by Brazilian textile artist Kennedy Bahia circa 1980. Hummingbird, butterflies and flowers. “Known nationally and internatio...
Textile
Pretty Vintage Polish Woven Tapestry by E. Oloksy
Located in Saint Ouen, FR
Wonderful mid century polish tapestry with a native design of town and beautiful light colors, entirely hand woven with wool on cotton foundation Name...
Wool
$18,000
H 58 in W 108 in D 0.5 in
Vintage Cubist-Inspired Tapestry by Robert Goodnough, USA, circa 1980
By Robert Goodnough
Located in Miami, FL
Vintage Cubist-Inspired Tapestry by Robert Goodnough, USA, circa 1970s Vibrant tapestry by American artist Robert Goodnough (1917-2010), known for his exploration of Cubist-inspire...
Wool
Italian Design Classic Woolen Vintage Tapestry by Missoni, 1980s
By Missoni Home, Ottavio Missoni
Located in Renens, CH
Woolen tapestry, professionally framed. This piece, considered a work of art has been designed by Ottavio Missoni, (1921 – 2013) during the 1980s. The Missoni enterprise was founded...
Wool