Mossimo Giannulli is an American fashion designer who founded Mossimo, a mid-range clothing company, in 1986; Giannulli sold this company to Iconix Brand Group in 2006, exactly twenty years after it was founded.
Giannulli created Mossimo, a mid-range American clothing company in 1986 on Balboa Island in Newport Beach, California. Mossimo specializes in youth and teenage clothing such as shirts, jeans, jackets, socks, underwear, and accessories.
During his first year in business he grossed $1 million. The following year he made $4 million. Mossimo expanded the line in 1991 to include sweatshirts, knits, and sweaters. By 1995, the collection included women's clothing and men's tailored suits. After eight years in business, Mossimo, Inc. had grown into a multimillion-dollar lifestyle sportswear and accessories company.
Mossimo went public with an initial public offering in 1996. After shares tumbled from $50 to $4 when the founder tried and failed to make the transition from streetwear/beachwear to high fashion, he took the brand downscale, announcing on March 28, 2000, Mossimo, Inc. a major, multi-product licensing agreement with Target stores, for $27.8 million. Mossimo was acquired by Iconix Brand Group in 2006.
