The collection is characterised by oversized cardigans, billowing coats and ponchos with a colour palette of burnt earth tones, greys and purples. Why do you think it will appeal to UAE customers?
I think because of the colours and its femininity. Plus we have a long heritage which people like. And I think they will appreciate the preciousness of our fabrics.
With Missoni's hotel in Kuwait up and running, are there plans for any more in the region?
We're opening a resort in Oman before the winter, and there are still discussions about Dubai, which was originally planned to be the first one.
How did the zigzags come about?
It's all because of a machine. At the beginning we were only doing stripes, as that was the only way to put colour on a knit. My father, who was an athlete and competed in the 1948 Olympics, started a business making knitted tracksuits. In 1953 he married my mother. They bought a knitting machine together - he did tracksuits and she did sweaters then dresses. Then mum remembered her family used a certain machine to make shawls and it made zigzags!
Missoni is proudly still a family business. How is everyone doing?
My mother jumps, she doesn't walk! She's just been in Rome and Trieste and is now back home. My dad is good but recently broke a vertebrae - he's OK now but upset because he had to rest. And here's your news exclusive: Margherita my daughter is getting married! The lucky guy is a friend of my son from school. The wedding is next month and lunch will be a picnic in my garden. We started work on the wedding dress but then had to stop as we had to plan the summer pre-collections. So we'll restart again this week.