Angela Missoni. Zigzag of Good Luck

It seems that the NORTHERN COAST OF SARDINIA GIVES THE SANDFULLY SUNSHINE GIVES IT ALL NEEDS FOR CREATIVITY - JOY, BRIGHT PAINT AND OPTIMISM. ANGELA MISSONI - DAUGHTER OF OTTAVIO AND DOSES OF MISSONI, BASED THE KNITTING FIRM IN 1953.

Lacking sufficient funds and the necessary equipment to produce noble fabrics, they brought into fashion specific combinations of uneven stripes on knitwear that resemble ripples on a TV screen on an idle channel. Today, the Missoni clan’s family business is headed by Angela, who was not going to do it at all ... About how everything really happened, Angela, whom we met in Dubai Boutique 1 at the presentation of the new collection, told herself.

Hello, Angela. I do not know a single person who would not like knitwear. And, probably, all fashionistas of the world dream of cozy, stylish and beautiful Missoni knitwear. Please tell me how and when did you start comprehending a family business?

I was probably about 18 years old when I started helping my mom at the factory. I can’t say that I liked it very much or was extremely interesting, I just tried to be useful to my relatives in one or the other, because I needed pocket money. At that time I was thinking more about marriage and subsequent motherhood. It occupied all my thoughts as a whole. Actually, I coped with my task, and by the age of 27 my husband and I already had three children. As a young mother, I constantly tried to come up with and do something that could create a pleasant atmosphere for my children. That is, in addition to occasional help at the family factory, I did my own projects, such as a playground, for example. When my son Francesco was born, I generally decided to build a farm for the production of organic chicken. Thoughts on environmental protection and the release of environmentally friendly products also haunted me.

Yes, very versatile hobbies ...

Add to this the most complete confidence that I am doing everything right (laughs)! When my youngest daughter Teresa was born, I came to my father and told him that I was not interested in Missoni's family business, and I was going to look for my own path in life. At that moment I was already 27 years old. My parents did a great job with the factory, and I did not see my place there. My father asked me what I would like to do. I replied that it would be very interesting for me to start creating jewelry. Then my father was surprised, they say, why not make decorations in the walls of a family company? He suggested that I work on what is closer to me, and, moreover, give my collections the name Missoni. Before this conversation with him, for some reason I didn’t even think that it’s not at all necessary to be an assistant to my mother, but you can independently and simultaneously work in a family business.

What specifically confused you in working with your mother?

Our mother was always very strict, it was difficult to work with her. Fortunately, my parents perfectly understood that I better give more freedom and give the opportunity to create myself. Thus, I started creating my first jewelry collection as part of a family brand, however, as you can guess, this was a line of jewelry for children. After which I began to develop a line of accessories, bags and shoes, children's clothing. And finally, in 1998, she released the first full-fledged independent collection of Missoni clothes. It was she, by and large, that allowed me to understand that my place is in the world of fashion! What I like fashion, that I just adore it! I am captivated by the freedom of expression that can be seen in my own collection - Angela Missoni. By the way, my first steps in the fashion world were not as colorful as everything that the Missoni house did before me. I began my independent work with monochrome things, gradually adding colors and ornaments to them, and after the first four collections my mother praised me, saying that she really liked my work, and then asked why I should not finally start developing branded Missoni Seasonal Series. I, it was, began to object, but my mother said that she sees the modern style of Missoni exactly as I did it. In a word, this praise inspired me very much, and today, having become the head of the company, I continue to work and explore the fascinating world of fabrics and knitwear, different varieties of yarn and color combinations.

What then does your mother Rosita Missoni do?

She finally got more free time and completely devoted herself to what she always liked - creating the Missoni Home collections, which includes all kinds of accessories and home accessories - from bathrobes and towels to upholstered furniture and scented candles. To me, as a parting word, my mother said: "You must be engaged in fashion while you are young and passionate about creativity, while not forgetting about the commercial side of things." It seems to me that the commercial component of our family business today is very clearly controlled. I made some fundamental changes to our collections and shows, while my mother constantly had to return to traditional things, focusing on the requirements of the market. She simply had no time to think about introducing more new products. I, having freed her from the routine, allowed her to open up in wonderful lines for the house, and I myself altered our “zigzags” and “stripes” somewhat, somewhere reducing the number of colors in the ornament, somewhere playing with proportions and materials, and so on Further. I remember how, at my first shows, I dared to demonstrate combinations of only three, and sometimes even two colors, which met some resistance among the old-timers of the company. Since, if they did not see 22 colors on every 12 inches of fabric, they immediately asked: "Is this Missoni?" Then, however, they got used to it.

As I like to repeat, I slightly cleared the space, reviving the Missoni style of the 1960s and 1970s and significantly changing the color scheme. Before my arrival, Missoni had a lot of groundwork, but there were even more repetitions. I got rid of all that was superfluous to keep moving forward.

How many years have you run a family business, and who helps you?

I have been at the helm of Missoni for over 17 years. In our family, I represent the fourth generation of working women. My great-grandmother and grandmother worked in the factories of their husbands and held rather high posts, while remaining in the shade, since they carried out all the internal work in the production, and my husbands sold finished products and held negotiations. That is, they were in sight. By the way, I'm not very sure that men rule the world of modern fashion. There are also many women who have become creative directors of leading international companies. Take me, for example. And my mother always worked next to her father, however, it was she who owned our famous "zigzags". She was the engine of the company, despite the popular belief that Missoni is, first of all, my father, Ottavio.

Thank goodness my husband is not involved in the family business (laughs). True, my brothers Vittorio and Luca help me. My daughter Margarita also begins to help me a little, as I once did to my mother.

Have you ever wondered how many color combinations have been created under the roof of the Missoni House since 1953?

Oh, I think such calculations will take no less time than working on a new collection (laughs). If in one seasonal collection we can use from 35 to 75 different color "zigzag" and "striped" combinations, what can we say about the almost 60-year history of the House?

Can we say that today the Missoni brand is known all over the world, and your collections can be found everywhere?

Regarding the fact that the brand is known, then yes, of course. As for the global presence, our collections are represented in most countries, but in very small quantities. I believe that we have great potential for development. For example, I am very interested in Russia and its neighboring CIS countries, we are still not for sale in China. In a word, we have something to strive for.

When such a moment comes that you will want to move away from the release of the regular seasonal Missoni collections and pass this matter on to your children, what will you do?

I will be producing jewelry. This is my real passion! While I am making jewelry only for myself, but who knows, maybe someday the world will see a new zigzag in the work of members of the Missoni family. Or even not one (laughs).

Thank you, Angela. And for the cheerful collections, and for the fascinating conversation. Until we meet again.

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