News: Ottavio Missoni “passed away serenely” at the age of 92

Ottavio Missoni (called Tai by friends and family),founder of Italian fashion house Missoni and a retired Italian Olympic hurdler has “passed away serenely” at the age of 92 years old. The world-famous fashion designer and company’s co-founder died in his home in Sumirago, Italy, surrounded by family, according to a statement issued by Missoni S.p.A., The Associated Press reported.



 The Italian fashion house Missoni built became internationally known for its zigzag-patterned knitwear and bright colorful designs, a favorite of elite and celebrities alike, from Madonna to Kate Moss and Jennifer Lopez.

 His death comes four months after his son, Vittorio Missoni, an executive at the family business, went missing. The plane carrying Vittori, his wife and other passengers disappeared in January after takeoff in the Caribbean, setting off a failed search-and-rescue effort.

 Missoni’s work – from patchwork tapestries to sweaters bearing his zigzag stitching – has been displayed at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Whitney Museum in New York in a retrospective for his 25th anniversary and, most recently, in a 2012 exhibition in Maribor, Slovenia, where he was hailed as the “genius of color.”

 He is survived by wife Rosita, daughter Angela, son Luca, and grandchildren, according to the AP.