Moschino Franco

Born in Abbiategrasso, in the province of Milan, the son of a foundry owner, he became fatherless at the tender age of eight and was raised by an uncle. Instead of joining the family business, he chose to dedicate himself to art. In 1967, he moved to Milan, where he attended painting courses at the Brera Academy and later studied fashion at the Istituto Marangoni. He graduated in 1980 with the aim of becoming a model maker and tailor.

Between 1971 and 1973, he participated for two seasons in the dialect theatre company I Legnanesi, directed by Felice Musazzi, playing both male and female roles in the performances E la buleta la va la va… (1971-1972) and Teresa Story (1972-1973).

Career

Still a student, in 1971 Moschino began working as a designer for Gianni Versace, with whom he collaborated for six years. From 1977 to 1988, he was a designer for the Cadette fashion house for eleven seasons.

In 1983, he founded his first line, Moonshadow, followed in the same year by the brand Moschino Couture!. His creations initially focused on casual wear and jeans, quickly expanding to lingerie, evening dresses, footwear, menswear, and perfumes. In 1988, he launched the more accessible line Cheap & Chic.

In 1993, already gravely ill and increasingly distanced from the fashion industry, he celebrated ten years of activity with the farewell project X anni di Kaos. This project included a large retrospective exhibition at the Permanent Gallery in Milan (featuring clothes, objects, and, for the first time, also his paintings), a fashion show at the National Theatre, and an imposing catalogue conceived as an autonomous work of art.

Death

Franco Moschino died at 44 on 18 September 1994 in his home in Annone di Brianza (now Villa Adinolfi), due to a heart attack following intestinal cancer that had afflicted him for at least two years. It was later revealed that the illness was related to AIDS. He is buried in the family tomb at the cemetery of Castelletto di Abbiategrasso.

After his passing, the creative direction of the brand passed to his long-time collaborator Rossella Jardini. In 1999, the fashion house was acquired by the Ferretti Group and is now part of the Aeffe Group.

Style

“There is no creativity without chaos.”

— Franco Moschino

Moschino is remembered for a provocative, ironic, and unconventional style that has influenced generations of designers, including Jean Paul Gaultier. His creations often represent a parody and critique of the fashion world itself.

He reinterpreted classic garments with irreverent and surreal details: suits with pinwheels instead of buttons, the famous little black dress with the price embroidered, skirts made entirely from ties, one-sleeve shirts, or t-shirts with the word “MOSCHIFO”. His fashion shows were memorable theatrical events: models walking on their knees, invitations in the form of panties, and eccentric performances (such as when he had himself photographed dressed as a woman).

His clothes have been worn by numerous celebrities, including Fran Drescher (The Nanny), Alicia Silverstone, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Anna Friel.