Missoni’s impact on the fashion world
By Brittany Anas
The high-profile disappearance of Vittorio Missoni — who is chief executive officer of the Missoni fashion empire — still remains a mystery. The Italian designer was last seen on Friday, returning from vacation with his wife, two Italian friends and two Venezuelan crew members, when the small plane they were in disappeared off the coast of Venezuela. On Monday, the company officially confirmed the disappearance of Missoni and his wife.
As fashion world insiders speculate as to whether the luxe Missoni line can survive the disappearance of its CEO, here’s a look at how the Missoni name has transformed the fashion world.
The Missoni brand: The Italian brand is recognized for its signature colorful, geometric, zig-zag prints — on everything from shoes to beach towels to dresses. The brand made popular the use of high-end knits on not just sweaters, but skirts and dresses and other apparel.
Pop stars in the U.S. who have donned the Missoni label include J. Lo and Madonna. Other stars that are fans of the label include Blake Lively, Nicole Kidman, Demi Moore and Cameron Diaz.
Who are the Missoni’s?: According to an article in The New York Times, the company was founded by fashion designers Ottavio and Rosita Missoni in the 1950s. Four decades later, their three children — including Vittorio, now 58 — took over and revitalized the line.
Collaboration with Target: In 2011, Target teamed up with Missoni for an affordable line. (Some of Missoni’s dresses retail for well over $1,000). The collaboration quickly sold out and even slowed web traffic on Target’s web site. The launch was probably the most successful collaboration with Target, and accelerated the trend as Target has partnered with other high-end designers — like Jason Wu — and boutiques.
It’s unclear whether the Missoni fashion house will participate in international fall fashion shows scheduled in the coming weeks.
Where you can find Missoni pieces: Retailers like Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus and Net-a-Porter carry the Missoni line.
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