Photographs
courtesy Missoni press
The story of
an Olympic scarf souvenir with a happy ending
And
“… they live happily ever after”. Way back in 1948 during the London
Olympic Games, Rosita Missoni was introduced to Ottavio. She was a sixteen-year-old student learning
English and he was a handsome twenty-seven year old member of the Italian 400
meters hurdle team. After watching him
run at Wembley, Rosita and her fellow students were invited to lunch with the
Italian athletes, and it was love at first sight.
1948 Olympic scarf souvenir. Shortly afterwards, Rosita saw this Arnold
Lever Olympic Scarf souvenir at Harrods which included Ottavio’s name as an
Olympic winner and remembering the handsome, intelligent athlete she had had
lunch with, wanted to buy it, but was afraid her fellow schoolmates would pull
her leg. She regretted this ever since…and
for the past sixty-four years has been trying to find another one…luckily this
June, one was found at the renowned Alfie’s Antique Market in London,
ending the quest concurrently
with – wait for it - the 2012 London Olympic Games.
Photographs
courtesy Missoni press
… they
live happily ever after - Ottavio and Rosita on their wedding day 18 April –
1953.
Photographs courtesy
Missoni press
The commemorative Olympic stamp. A commemorative
Italian stamp shows Ottavio Missoni, who ran in the 1948 London Olympics 400 meter
hurdles. Ottavio Missoni also produced
the 1948 Italian Olympic team sportswear, marking the beginning of the Missoni fashion empire it is today.