Franca Sozzani Dies: Editor of Italian Vogue Magazine Was 66

The editor-in-chief of Italian Vogue magazine Franca Sozzani has died at 66 after a yearlong illness.

Sozzani was editor of the fashion magazine for 28 years, becoming the editor the same month as Anna Wintour was made editor-in-chief of the American Vogue. The two became friends over time, and Wintour remembered Sozzani Thursday on Vogue's website as clever and an effortless multitasker as well as warm and funny.

Sozzani had one child, a son, Francesco Carrozzini, who recently premiered a documentary about her called “Franca: Chaos and Creation.” Mother and son were close, and he was by her side when she died, according to the New York Post's Page Six.

Born in Mantua, Italy, the talented editor brought a focus on powerful images to the Italian imprint of Vogue and connected the fashion images to contemporary issues around the world. One memorable issue in 2008 featured women of color exclusively and came to be known as the Black Issue. It was widely collected and hailed as opening doors to more diversity in the fashion world.

Sozzani also was the editorial director of Conde Nast Italy and the ambassador to fashion for the United Nations. In her U.N. role, she raised awareness for world hunger as well as money for the cause.

She received the Swarovski Award for Positive Change at London’s 2016 Fashion Awards on Dec. 5. A few days later, Sozzani attended what would be her last fashion show, a Chanel event with Karl Lagerfeld and Wintour.

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