Designer Ottavio Missoni died Thursday at his home in Italy, according to USA Today. He was 92.
He started the Missoni fashion line, famous for its zigzag pattern, in the 1950's with his wife Rosita. The couple met when Ottavio was competing in the 1948 Olympics in London in track and field, according to the New York Times. The fashion dynasty was originally birthed as an athletic apparel line.
The brand expanded to include high end apparel and now features furniture, decor, perfumes and a hotel chain. Premier shops and department stores across the world carry the Missoni line. In 2011, Missoni fashion collaborated with Target to release a lower priced line whose sales broke retail records.
He was reportedly hospitalized with heart troubles last week. A statement issued by Missoni S.p.A. said he "passed away serenely" in his home in the town of Sumirago, according to The Miami Herald. Sumirago is also home to the Missoni fashion house headquarters, near Milan.
Earlier this year, the Missoni family faced another loss when Ottavio's son, CEO Vittorio Missoni, disappeared with his wife while flying in a small plane during a vacation to a Venezuelan island and were never found. Vittorio's siblings Luca, Vittorio and Angela continue to run the fashion dynasty.
Ottavio was born in 1921 in then-Yugoslavia. His father was an Italian sea captain and his mother a noblewoman. During WWII, he was a P.O.W. in Egypt, according to TheJournal.ie. Following the war, he competed professionally in track and field competitions in hurdling and sprinting.
According to TheJournal.ie, funeral services will be held Sunday and Monday.
