The Designer Bible - Part 87. - Sonia Rykiel

Sonia Rykiel is a french fashion designer. At 17 she worked at a fashion store, she was responsible for the windowshop displays. In 1953 she married Sam Rykiel, owner of a luxury boutique.

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In 1962 she was unable to find soft sweaters to wear during her pregnancy, so she designed her own sweaters. Later she created her first maternity dresses and a small sweater, called the Poor Boy Sweater. She started selling it under her husband's label. This sweater was also the cover of Elle in 1967, she became famous. 

Poor Boy Sweater 1967 Source

FW 2010 Source

SS 2014 Source

SS 2014 Source

Her color palette usually consist of beige, grey, dark blue, and charcoal.In 2009 Rykiel and H&M introduced a collection together. In 2014, Julie de Libran became the art director of the brand. (Libran was the studio director of womenswear at Louis Vuitton befor.)

 

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Sonia Rykiel for H&M Source

In 2009, on the 40th anniversary of Sonia Rykiel in fashion, her collagues celebrated her with a huge fashion show. 

Celebrating Sonia Rykiel 40 years in fashion Source