Following Grazioli’s departure, Caliri aims to realign Missoni with its rich knitwear heritage
Key Takeaways
Alberto Caliri Appointed as Creative Director of Missoni: Caliri, a Missoni veteran who previously succeeded Angela Missoni in 2021, now returns to oversee the entire brand.
Caliri’s Focus on Lifestyle: This leadership shift is part of Missoni’s broader strategy to embrace a lifestyle-focused approach across its collections.
Filippo Grazioli Exits After Two Years: Grazioli, known for his work at Maison Margiela and Givenchy, stepped down after efforts to modernize Missoni didn’t align with the brand’s heritage.
Grazioli’s Mixed Legacy: His experimental designs brought innovation but lacked cohesion with Missoni’s storied color and knitwear traditions.
Missoni has announced the appointment of longtime company veteran Alberto Caliri as its new creative director, effective immediately. Caliri, who took over from Angela Missoni in 2021 before transitioning to focus on Missoni’s home division, will now lead the Italian knitwear specialist across all its collections.
This leadership change follows the departure of Filippo Grazioli, who held the creative director role for two years. Grazioli, a former collaborator of Martin Margiela and Riccardo Tisci, sought to modernize Missoni’s iconic aesthetic by introducing cleaner, more experimental designs. However, despite his efforts to push the brand in new directions, his vision ultimately diverged from Missoni’s core identity of vibrant patterns and intricate knitwork.
Grazioli’s departure marks the end of a tenure characterized by both promise and misalignment. While his work reinterpreted Missoni’s signature zigzag motifs in novel ways, critics noted that his approach sidelined the brand’s rich color palette and pattern traditions. Moreover, his lack of expertise in knitwear, a hallmark of Missoni’s DNA, further complicated his efforts to reshape the brand’s aesthetic.
Alberto Caliri, who has spent many years at Missoni, brings a deep understanding of the house’s history and creative codes. His return as creative director is part of a broader strategy to infuse the brand with a lifestyle-oriented perspective while respecting its heritage.
CEO Livio Proli, who initially brought Grazioli on board, is now counting on Caliri’s extensive knowledge of Missoni to guide the brand toward a more cohesive future. The hope is that Caliri’s long-standing connection with the brand will help to realign its creative direction, ensuring that its iconic knits, colors, and patterns continue to resonate with both loyal customers and new audiences.
As Missoni prepares for this new chapter, the fashion industry will be watching closely to see how Caliri balances the demands of innovation with the preservation of Missoni’s storied past.