**Fashion Pioneer Rosita Missoni Passes Away at 93**

**Rosita Missoni's contributions to fashion and her innovative designs have marked an era of colorful creativity and style.**

Rosita Missoni, the renowned co-founder of the Italian knitwear brand Missoni, has passed away at the age of 93. The news was announced by Attilio Fontana, president of Lombardy, who highlighted the company’s "multicoloured textures" as part of Missoni's legacy. He expressed sincere condolences, stating her death was a significant loss for Italy, particularly for her native Varese.

Alongside her late husband, Ottavio Missoni, Rosita established the brand in 1953, quickly earning recognition for its distinctive zig-zag patterns. Born to shawl-making parents in 1931 in Golasecca, Lombardy, Rosita’s journey into fashion began during a trip to London where she met Ottavio, who was competing in the 400m hurdles at the 1948 Olympics. Fascinated by his craftsmanship—including his knit tracksuits—she embraced the world of knitwear, which would soon define her career.

In a nostalgic 2016 interview with AFP, Rosita fondly recalled how marriage introduced her to the world of fashion: "When I got married, four sewing machines arrived with my husband." The couple launched a machine-knitwear workshop in Gallarate, northwest of Milan, and their big break came in 1958 when a Milan department store ordered a large variety of striped dresses.

Missoni's first catwalk show occurred in 1966, with a subsequent presentation at the prestigious Pitti Palace in Florence the following year. The brand gained global attention when a controversy surrounding the transparency of their garments led to a daring decision to have models walk without visible brassieres.

After Ottavio’s passing in 2013, aged 92, their daughter Angela took over the fashion house. However, Rosita continued to contribute, particularly to the home line, Missoni Home, ensuring that her creative vision lived on in every aspect of the brand's offerings.