Angela Missoni steps down as creative director

A new chapter is beginning at Missoni, the Italian fashion house famous for its zigzag-patterned knitwear. After 24 years in the role, Angela Missoni has decided to step down as creative director, but will remain at the company as president. Her right-hand man, Alberto Caliri, will take over as interim creative director starting with the house's collection for Spring/Summer 2022.

As confirmed to FashionNetwork.com, the decision is part of a reorganisation and relaunch plan started in 2018, following Italian investment fund Fondo Strategico Italiano (FSI)'s acquisition of a 41.2% stake in the company. Under the leadership of its CEO Livio Proli, who took on the role at the head of the brand a year ago, Missoni is seeking to reposition itself and widen its audience, notably through the introduction of a broader range of products and prices, as well as a refreshed style.

For the first time, the label's creative direction is therefore leaving the hands of the Missoni family. Angela Missoni stepped into the role in 1997, succeeding her parents, Ottavio and Rosita Missoni, who founded the label in 1953. It's not all change though, as continuity will be provided by Caliri, who will oversee the house's creative efforts for the time being. The designer, who has been with the company for the last 24 years, has served as its design director since 2009.

In March, the company already carried out an internal reorganisation involving the departure of Angela Missoni's daughter, Margherita Maccapani Missoni, from her role as creative director of youth line M Missoni. Furthermore, two of the three sons of Vittorio Missoni, Angela Missoni's brother, who passed away in 2013, were given new responsibilities. The first, Giacomo Missoni, became CEO and president of Missoni USA, while the second, Ottavio Jr., who formerly served as president of Missoni USA alongside CEO Antonio Moltoni, returned to the company's HQ in Sumirago, near Milan, where he took on the role of chief sustainability officer.

At the time, without providing further details about the future of M Missoni, Proli explained that "in response to the reduction and evolution of consumption in the fashion sector caused by the pandemic, the company is carrying out an internal reorganisation of the design and communications departments, in order to boost the natural synergies and quality attributes in our collections’ design."

In 2019, Missoni achieved revenues of 110 million euros but saw its sales drop 30% in 2020 due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Angela Missoni steps down as creative director

See also