Missoni facts for kids
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| Private | |
| Industry | Fashion |
| Founded | Gallarate, Lombardy, Italy (1953) |
| Founder | Rosita and Ottavio Missoni |
| Headquarters |
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Italy
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Number of locations
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20 countries |
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Area served
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Worldwide |
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Key people
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Filippo Grazioli (Creative Director and President) Angela Missoni Luca Missoni Livio Proli (CEO) |
| Products | Knitwear, leather, cotton |
| Services | Fashion retail |
| Revenue | $135 million (2023) |
| Owner | Missoni family |
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Number of employees
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300 (2018) |
| Divisions |
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Missoni is a famous Italian fashion company. It is known for its bright and colorful knitwear designs. The company is based in Varese, Italy. It was started by Ottavio Missoni (also known as "Tai") and Rosita Missoni in 1953.
Contents
History of Missoni
How it Started
The Missoni company began in 1953. Ottavio and Rosita Missoni opened a small workshop in Gallarate, Italy. They made knitted clothes there. Their first collection under the Missoni name was shown in Milan in 1958.
The business grew with help from fashion editor Anna Piaggi. In 1965, Rosita met French stylist Emmanuelle Khanh. They worked together on a new collection the next year. In 1967, they were invited to show their clothes at the Pitti Palace in Florence.
During this show, Rosita asked the models to remove their bras. This was because the bras were the wrong color for the thin, shiny blouses. The fabric became see-through under the bright lights. This caused a big stir and got a lot of attention. The Missonis were not invited back the next year. However, their business continued to grow. A new factory was built in Sumirago in 1969.
Missoni designs became very popular in the US. This was thanks to Diana Vreeland, who was the editor of American Vogue. A Missoni shop was opened in Bloomingdales, a famous department store. Missoni was very influential in fashion in the early 1970s.
The Next Generation
In the 1990s, Rosita Missoni became less interested in fashion. Her daughter, Angela, took over the main fashion line in 1998. Rosita then focused on Missoni Home, which makes items for houses.
In 1996, the Missonis gave control of the business to their three children. Vittorio Missoni became the marketing director. Luca Missoni designed menswear until 2008. Angela Missoni designed womenswear. She also took over menswear in 2008. Luca then became responsible for the company's past designs and events. By 2005, most of Missoni's money came from women's clothing.
In 2011, Missoni made news when Target Stores sold cheaper versions of Missoni products. Most items sold out in one day. There were long lines at stores, and Target's website became very busy.
Changes and Growth
On January 4, 2013, a plane carrying Vittorio Missoni, who was the CEO of Missoni at the time, went missing near Venezuela. His body and the plane's remains were found later that year, on June 27, 2013.
After this, designer Patricia Urquiola helped redesign Missoni's stores. In 2014, Angela Missoni hired Rossella Jardini as a helper.
In 2018, the Missoni family sold a part of their company to an investment fund. They sold 41.2% of the company for about $82 million. The Missoni family still owns 58.8% of the company. A year later, Angela Missoni said they planned to list the company on the Borsa Italiana (Italian stock exchange) within three years.
In 2021, Alberto Caliri took over Angela Missoni's role in leading the women's line. The next year, Missoni named Filippo Grazioli as its new creative director. Caliri now oversees Missoni Sport and Missoni Home.
Other Missoni Brands
Missoni Sport
Missoni Sport first started in 1985. It was designed by Luca Missoni. It was stopped in 2007 but brought back in 2022. Now, it focuses on comfortable clothes for wellness. These clothes are usually about 20% cheaper than the main Missoni brand.
In 2023, Missoni Sport worked with soccer player Mike Maignan. They created a special collection of tracksuits, cardigans, and hoodies.
M Missoni
M Missoni was a less expensive clothing line. It was launched in 1998. Margherita Maccapani Missoni, Rosita Missoni's granddaughter, was the creative director for this line from 1998 to 2021.
In 2012, M Missoni launched its first collection of accessories like bags and jewelry. Missoni later took full control of the M Missoni line in 2018. M Missoni was stopped in 2021.
Missoni Home
Missoni Home makes items for your house. It started in 1981, making fabrics for furniture.
In 2012, Missoni Home worked with a building in Manila, Philippines. They decorated all the apartments and penthouses in the Urban Oasis building in Dubai. As part of Missoni Home, the company started the Missoni Resort Club project in 2022. This project customizes beach clubs and resorts with Missoni designs.
Hotel Missoni
In 2005, Missoni and Rezidor Hotel Group agreed to create Hotel Missoni. They planned to have many hotels by 2012. Two Hotel Missoni locations opened: one in Edinburgh (2009) and one in Kuwait City (2011). The hotel agreement ended in 2014. The Edinburgh hotel changed its name to Radisson Collection.
Missoni Kids
Missoni Kids is a clothing line for children. In 2022, Missoni signed a deal with an Italian company called Simonetta. Simonetta will now make and sell Missoni Kids clothes all over the world, starting in spring 2023.
Other Projects
Missoni launched its first perfume in 1982. Now, Estée Lauder makes and sells Missoni perfumes.
In 2011, Target offered a special collection called Missoni for Target. This included home goods, accessories, and clothes for women, men, girls, and babies. It was sold in stores and online.
In 2017, Missoni started its first real estate project called Missoni Baia. This is a building with 249 apartments in Miami, Florida. It was finished by the end of 2022.
Missoni also has agreements to make eyewear (glasses) with Safilo and watches with Timex Group.
Advertising Campaigns
Over the years, Missoni has worked with famous photographers for its advertisements. These include Juergen Teller (in 2010) and Alasdair McLellan (in 2013).
Helping Others
In 2017, singer Jennifer Lopez worked with Missoni. They teamed up with the Women's Cancer Research Fund and Saks Fifth Avenue. They raised money for cancer research. Jennifer Lopez helped promote special Missoni t-shirts. The money from these shirts went to 12 different cancer charities.
