Angela Missoni (born 1958) is the

creative director A creative director is a person who makes high-level creative decisions; oversees the creation of creative assets such as advertisements, products, events, or logos; and directs and translates the creative people who produce the end results. Creat ...

and president of

Missoni Missoni is an Italian luxury fashion house based in Varese, Italy, Varese, and known for its colourful knitwear designs. The company was founded by Ottavio Missoni, Ottavio ("Tai") and Rosita Missoni in 1953. History Early beginnings The busin ...

S.p.A. Since 1997 she has run the company when she took over from her parents Rosita and Ottavio Missoni their knitwear business. She has since transformed the company into a fashion giant, featuring evening wear, swimwear, tailoring and more, developing a reputation for keeping the Missoni design company fresh and relevant for 60+ years. Missoni is well known as a supporter of

human rights Human rights are universally recognized Morality, moral principles or Social norm, norms that establish standards of human behavior and are often protected by both Municipal law, national and international laws. These rights are considered ...

and women's issues.

Early life and career

Missoni was born in 1958 in

Milan Milan ( , , ; ) is a city in northern Italy, regional capital of Lombardy, the largest city in Italy by urban area and the List of cities in Italy, second-most-populous city proper in Italy after Rome. The city proper has a population of nea ...

. She is the third child of Ottavio and Rosita Missoni. In 1993, Missoni started her own label, but in 1997, she took over from her mother as creative director of the family brand. Missoni did not enter the fashion industry until her children were old enough to attend school; she started her career as a nursery teacher. She started her own label at this time, and after a few seasons there, she succeeded her mother as Missoni's creative director. In 1997, she debuted her first collection for the brand. Missoni is the creative director and president of

. She has collaborated with several fashion brands, including

Valentino Valentino may refer to People * Valentino (surname), including a list of people with the name * Valentino (given name), including a list of people with the name Mononymous persons * Valentino (fashion designer) (born Valentino Clemente Ludovic ...

Converse Converse may refer to: Mathematics and logic * Converse (logic), the result of reversing the two parts of a definite or implicational statement ** Converse implication, the converse of a material implication ** Converse nonimplication, a logical c ...

Havaianas Havaianas (stylized in all lowercase) is a Brazilian brand of flip-flops, flip-flop sandals created and patented in 1962. The brand was founded by Brazilian manufacturer Alpargatas S.A. Inspired by the Japanese zori sandals, Havaianas became the ...

and Bugaboo. Missoni launched a collaboration with

Target Target may refer to: Warfare and shooting * Shooting target, used in marksmanship training and various shooting sports ** Bullseye (target), the goal one for which one aims in many of these sports ** Aiming point, in field artille ...

in September 2011 for a fashion and home collection. The line became successful and sold out in less than 24 hours. After completing the Autumn/Winter 2021 collection, Angela resigned as creative director in May 2021. She remains president of Missoni, guiding the family business into the future.

Impact

She has been recognized for her work in a variety of ways including, being among 12 female recipients of the

Women's World Award Winners of the Women's World Award, sponsored by the World Awards organization headed by former Soviet Union President Mikhail Gorbachev, intended for women who have influenced the world by their work in areas such as society or politics. The aw ...

at the 2009 World Fashion Award. In 2014, Missoni was given an honorary doctorate of humane letters by the School of Fashion at the

Academy of Art University The Academy of Art University (AAU, or ART U), formerly Academy of Art College and Richard Stephens Academy of Art, is a private for-profit art school in San Francisco, California. It was founded as the Academy of Advertising Art by Richard S. ...

in San Francisco. In 2016 she received the design award from the

Museum of Arts and Design The Museum of Arts and Design (MAD), based in Manhattan, New York City, collects, displays, and interprets objects that document contemporary and historic innovation in craft, art, and design. In its exhibitions and educational programs, the ...

. In 2017 she received the

Fashion Group International The Fashion Group International (FGI) is a global, non-profit, professional organization founded in 1930 in New York City to benefit the fashion industry. FGI currently has over 5000 members in the fashion industry including apparel, accessories, b ...

of Dallas (FGI)

Lifetime Achievement Award Lifetime achievement awards are awarded by various organizations, to recognize contributions over the whole of a career, rather than or in addition to single contributions. Such awards, and organizations presenting them, include: A * A.C. ...

. In 2017 she received the

amfAR amfAR, the Foundation for AIDS Research, known until 2005 as the American Foundation for AIDS Research, is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to the support of AIDS research, HIV prevention, treatment education, and the advocacy of ...

's Award of Courage.

Personal life

Missoni married media events producer Marco Maccapani in 1982. The couple have three children together Margherita, Francesco and Theresa. Maccapani and Missoni divorced in 1989 after seven years of marriage. She currently lives in Milan with her long-time partner, Bruno Ragazzi, who runs

Versace Gianni Versace S.r.l. (), usually referred to as Versace ( ), is an Italian luxury elite fashion company founded by Gianni Versace in 1978. The company produces Italian-made ready-to-wear and accessories, as well as '' haute couture'' under it ...

's homewares business.

References

Living people Italian chief executives Fashion designers from Milan Italian fashion designers Italian women fashion designers 21st-century Italian businesswomen 21st-century Italian businesspeople 1958 births 20th-century Italian businesswomen 20th-century Italian businesspeople {{italy-business-bio-stub