The story of Missoni stripes & chevrons

If life gives you lemons, make lemonade. If life gives you chevron knitwear, then it’s time to thank your lucky stars.

When iconic Italian fashion house Missoni first started making garments, it opted for something people hadn’t really seen before: knitted stripes and chevrons.

The world (including former US Vogue editor Diana Vreeland) loved what felt like a stroke of careful pattern genius. However, like many creative triumphs, it turns out the trademark stripes may actually have come about more by accident than by design.

Late founder Ottavio Missoni said: ‘With the first machines we could only make solid or stripe knitwear’. Next thing, kapow! Stripy, zigzag world domination.

I’ve amassed my own small but perfectly formed Missoni collection including this chevron wash bag (top left) plus a scarf I actually hug like an old friend when I dig it out each winter. 

What are your thoughts about Missoni stripes?

Martha, The Colour File x

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