Italian high-end knitwear brand Missoni now has its very own store in Thailand and celebrated its opening last week with a party hosted by third-generation member of the Missoni family and board member Giacomo that was attended by local celebrities, socialites and the press.

Set up in a small workshop in the basement of Ottavio and Rosita Missoni’s home in Gallarate in 1953, the business has grown into one of the most prominent fashion houses in the world with its distinctive, free-spirited style.

Today Missoni’s glamorous style is instantly recognisable by its zigzag patterns and signature crochet knitwear, as the brand continues to create fabric sensations. Angela Missoni took over at the helm in 1997 and as creative director is committed to infusing the family’s brand with new energy and communicating trends and ideas. Her brother Luca is the artistic director of the Missoni Archive, which he is developing into a project to promote the company’s artistic and fashion heritage.

The new store in Bangkok is spread over 140 square metres on the first floor of the Luxe gallerie at Central Chidlom. It features both women’s and beachwear collections, complemented by a wide selection of accessories in an elegant symmetry of clothing and furnishing arrangements. The interior interprets Missoni’s heritage by playing with the tones and textures of different materials.

The new boutique is showcasing the brand’s summer 2017 collection Purity, which is characterised by an informal and relaxed elegance and exemplified in tank dresses that adhere to the body. Overlays of ribbed headbands, sarong scarves and petite cardigans tied at the waist define the silhouette.

There are deep v-necks, pieces with tromp-l’oeil effects, and lines that caress the body. Micro dresses, bathing suits and bikinis with micro tops and high-cut bottoms are fashioned from lightweight space-dye knitwear. Dazzling gold lame accentuates the spectacular nature and sensuality of the each individual piece, transforming them into precious jewelled objects.

The soft versatility of Missoni knitwear plays a principle part in the collection; ever more refined and exclusive due to its unique and innovative knitting techniques. Textures are shaved, perforated, raised, elaborated, compacted and weightless. Irregular colour blocking is mixed with malachite or tiger stripes. Embroidered lace-knits and space-dye meshes are enhanced by brilliantly intense contrasts of yellow, turquoise, coral, sand, white and black. New tones, stitches and compositions are superimposed to create differing lights and weights, creating aesthetically rich variations.

Knitwear plays on geometric forms while imitating the markings of solid stone and the natural surface erosion of rocks and pebbles.

Large, colourfully-lacquered disk earrings and talismanic bijoux inspired by exotic masks add a playful look that is completed by babouche slippers made from knitted patchworks and space-dyes, in foiled leather or decorated intarsia designs in a kaleidoscope of vibrant colours.

The Spring 2017 collection is also presented through the much-loved iconic Missoni patterns. Stripes, squares and zigzags exist by side, superimposing themselves in an endless interlacing of horizontal bands, vertical ribs and twisted constructions.

Contrasting space-dyes and solid colours flow through lacework and netting, fringing and towel stitching in combinations of classic eyelet-stitch, nut-pattern motifs and patchwork-insert details.

A variety of outfits for both day and evening are illuminated by intense tones and shimmering lurex reflections, evoking iridescent holograms in a radiant spectrum of colour.

Accessories include wide knitted belts with resin buckles, extra-long ribbon scarves and knitted sneakers and sandals with criss-crossing double straps.