Moschino, Franco (1950–1995)

Italian fashion designer. He became known for his irreverent clothing after opening his own business 1983. His tailored and classic designed outfits are decorated with slogans, peace symbols, diamanté anarchy signs, and other accessories such as heart-shaped buttons. His printed scarf designs include trompe l'oeil necklaces, handbags, and other accessories.

Born in Abbiategrasso, northern Italy, Moschino ran away to Milan and enrolled at the Accademia di Belle Arti where he studied 1968–71. On graduating, he worked as a sketcher for Versace 1971–77, and as a designer for Cadette until 1982. In 1983 he established his own label. Moschino belonged to a long line of stylists who use fashion as protest. During the 1980s he created clothes that questioned the fashion system and its manic consumerism but, ironically, these also became fashion.

In Moschino's last, 1994 season every garment was sold with a letter from him, citing ways in which his production processes had taken environmental issues into account.