Interview with Rosita Missoni - the head of the empire MISSONI - one of the leaders in the world of knitwear and fabric brands

Passing the gallery

Materials prepared: Natalya Vasilyeva

Magazine: (70)

In a huge, football-sized loft on Tortona Street in Milan last September, a presentation of the new MISSONI HOME spring-summer 2003 collection was held. Name MISSONI is a landmark in the world of knitwear and fabric brands, is among the top ten houses of high fashion. As often happens in Italy, the empire MISSONI - a family business founded by Ottavio and Rosito Missoni. Since 1983, the company has been producing accessories for the MISSONI HOME collection, annually expanding its range. Heads this area is Rosita. Thin, low elderly lady. Very short-haired, with a thin pigtail behind her back, big eyes that seem just huge behind the magnifying glasses. She manages to dress elegantly and extravagantly at the same time. Romance, love, art, success, business, sport are mixed in her lifeIn 1931, Rosita Dzhelmina was born in the city of Galasecca, Varese province. Her family owned a small knitwear factory. After graduation, Rosita began working under the guidance of her father in the family business. She met Ottavio Missoni at the London Olympics in 1948. The young cheerleader was present at the stadium when Ottavio, who played for the Italian national team, won the semifinal race. A year earlier, a famous athlete began to produce sports knitwear at a small factory in Trieste. It seems their fate arranged for their meeting. Immediately after the wedding, in 1953, the Missoni couple organizes textile and knitwear production near Milan. On antediluvian machines it was possible to produce only a single-colored fabric or striped strip. The spouses found a non-standard solution: the bands of different colors and widths placed horizontally, vertically or diagonally looked great. Soon, we purchased more sophisticated machines that could be zigzagged. So multi-colored stripes and zigz-gi became the hallmark of Missoni. In 1953, they first put their label on the product. Success did not come immediately. But today, no one doubts that Rosita and Ottavio created a new style, combining art and fashion. Exhibitions of the House of Missoni repeatedly held in major museums and galleries in different continents. The company has received many top awards for its contributions to art and design. Today, Ottavio and Rosita work together with their children: Vittorio, Luca and Angela. We were lucky: during the presentation Росита Миссони gave an exclusive interview to Salon-interior magazine.SALON: What is style MISSONIor Missonology, as you sometimes call it? “I think it’s a pleasure to live in a world of color, ornaments, textures, and play with them.” A thing of textiles can put an unexpected accent in the interior. Pillows, carpet on the floor, new upholstery, a sweater thrown on a chair - and you will see a new interior. Worst of all - to change everything inside and out. Sometimes I come home from a flea market with curious things, and they force me to make changes in the environment, for example, to change chairs. This is a game and play in the house. Change is needed. And in general, everyone should be happy and constantly striving for change. This is done in no way for show, to surprise anyone, because at home it is very important to feel comfortable and reflects the personality of the owner.S: Who are they buyers MISSONI? - This is a fairly wide range of people, but with a good artistic taste. They buy a dress or something else not simply because it is fashionable and they like it now, but because they want to have it forever. Most of my collections are built on this. S: And then who is Росита Миссони? - I lived a long life in work. I have a family, children. I married an artist who is also a professional athlete. Sport and art have always been leading in our lives. feel healthy, lead an active lifestyle: go skiing, rowing in boats, fishing, gathering mushrooms. I am not a collector in reality, but I love things in which there is a craft and fantasy. It can be carpets, jewelry, silk, porcelain. I find and acquire them with passion. I like many things: my forest, yard, orchard, vegetable garden. I love nature more than anything. And this is the passion that my husband and I share. We like to live outside the city. My home is 30 miles from Milan, and there we spend the weekend. Many years ago, when we were building our factory, we chose a place where it would be nice to work and rest. But at the same time, from there it is easy to get to the airport or the theater. It is very important for work to be surrounded by nature, to observe a beautiful sunset, to meet an amazing sunrise. Here is a place where you "charge the batteries", you just have to look out the window.S: Where is the origin of Missoni style? - My husband jokes that the Peruvians began to copy the design of MISSONI two thousand years ago. We draw ideas everywhere, all over the world, including Russia, which is one of the sources of inspiration. My ancestors are all Italians. They had a textile factory in 20s last century. From there come the origins of my design.S: So you are pure Italian and cosmopolitan? - Yes. At first I studied a lot of books, visited many museums, exhibitions, galleries. And as soon as I was given the opportunity, I traveled. I visited India, England, Ireland, Guatemala, Africa, Mexico and other countries. I travel a lot now, but more because of business than pleasure. I attend various exhibitions, shows, meet people. But when I relax, my husband and I also do not sit still, but we are actively moving all the time.S: What is your favorite color? - It will be hard to call. (Laughs infectiously.) Well, if you talk about me, then black and white, because these are the most "light" colors in terms of working with them. As for the design of the house, there is a good variety of colors, it is difficult to list everything. I like purple and its shades. This is a typical palette for our collections. And my husband also likes purple.S: Your latest collection is dominated by a combination of blue and chartreuse colors. - Yes, it reminds me of the seascape. In a house on the sea, I like all shades of green and blue. But in one corner I would combine them with black. (Laughs.) Although in their interior people are often afraid of color, and for them we design quieter, neutral combinations. Defining new color trends, I can only judge by myself: what I want, what will be new for me. I can be right or not. But I hope everything will be OK.S: How, then, does it mean that different designers offer the same color scheme, which becomes the hit of the season? - As they say, everything is in the air. After the gray wave on the crest, people are drawn to bright colors, then you want something pastel. It annoys you, and the “open” colors come back.S: When you design things for Missoni Home, do you imagine any particular interior? - No, not really. In homes, we want to give people creative freedom and try to provide them with as many opportunities as possible so that they can find them in our collections. S: Business card MISSONI - multicolored stripes and zigzags, and suddenly - flowers and peas in your latest collection. Shock for dealers and journalists ... - Maybe for you, but not for us. Flowers, peas have always been part of our world, and this motif has reappeared in our collections. And in general, he relates