Shopfront: The Italian Missoni family has produced knitwear with a high level of sophistication for almost 40 years but, until about five years ago, a whole generation didn't know it.
The flame stitch was probably its greatest claim to fame but the resurgence of 1970s-style at the end of the 1990s meant the Missonis were perfectly placed for reappraisal.
To hit the right spot, the family needed to tap into 30-year-olds with enough distance from the 1970s to appreciate it rather than groan over it. This it did and the company soared. It's no surprise then that its fashionable reinvention has stretched into goods for the home.
Missoni Home floor rugs and cushions are stocked at Limited Edition on Francis Street and are, like their clothes, quite a specific taste. While the shop is awaiting fresh stock, the catalogue of available designs shows the extraordinary Missoni eye for colour and pattern. From €600 to €5,000, you get fabrics woven with silk and super fine wools.
But remember that Missoni can be heavy on the eye and too much can be vulgar. You've got to have the right dose. Perhaps keep whatever is near the rug relatively plain. You can't have too much contrasting pattern nearby. The good side is that these are practical things, with enough colours in each to compliment many shades.
Limited Edition, 96 Francis Street, Dublin 8. Tel: 01-4531123.
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