Franco Moschino was born on February 27, 1950, in Abbiategrasso, Italy, and died on September 18, 1994 in Milan. From 1967 until 1970 he attended the Accademia delle Belle Arti in Milan. While he studied he drew sketches and fashion illustrations. He was noticed by Gianni Versace and invited to work for him from 1971 until 1977. He was chief designer of the fashion label Cadette (1977-1982). He founded his own company, Moonshadow, in 1983 and launched the Moschino Couture label that same year. He began with ladies’ fashion, but in 1986 he already made a debut in menswear. He released his first perfume for women a year later. Then lines like Cheap & Chic, founded in 1988 (according to some sources 1991), and Moschino Jeans came. He opened his first boutique in Milan in 1989 and celebrated the tenth anniversary of the fashion house with a special exhibition in Milan.