The amazing story behind Sonia Rykiel

When it comes to fashion, you just can’t mention the name Sonia Rykiel. Born a Polish Jewess in Paris in 1930, Sonia makes a name for herself around the world as a pioneer in the world of fashion design. If you’ve ever been yourself, or know someone who’s been pregnant, those people’s maternity clothes were certainly influenced by Sonia herself.

Sonia is someone who spent all her life around the creative world, at the age of 17 she worked in a textile store used to decorate the shop windows to better attract customers. Her husband owned a fancy clothing boutique, and it wasn’t until she got pregnant that her true passion for clothing began. At that point in her life, Sonia Rykiel was curious why none of her maternity sweaters were comfortable and took the initiative to design one herself.

Using her husband’s supplier, Sonia had the first prototype redesigned seven times before feeling like it was finished, this could later be her landmark, as she was dubbed “Queen of Fabrics” thereafter. While designing sweaters and dresses, selling them at her husband’s boutique, she began to play with different perfumes and scents, creating one called “The Poor Boy Sweater” that made the cover of ELLE Fashion magazine and brought her name to the world.

Not only was Sonia a pioneer in maternity clothing, she was the first designer to sew the exterior of clothing, she was also the first to print words in her name on sweaters, something impossible to find today. In 1980, Sonia was voted one of the 10 most elegant women in the world, proving that knitwear can be worn at any time and in any trend.

In 2005, Sonia Rykiel and her daughter Nathalie decided to bring the Paris style that is so successful there, to the United States. It was at the moment when they opened their store available with the Sonia Rykiel Woman line. Truth be told, there are three Sonia Rykiel fashion boutiques in the US that are doing very well.

Most recently, in 2009, Sonia Rykiel partnered with H&M to design a style that will create a type of underwear that is only now available. Sonia’s life can be interesting, she has certainly influenced the mainstream culture more than we can believe. His life does not begin and end with fashion, however, he has also published a few children’s books throughout his time.

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