Sonia Rykiel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sonia Rykiel
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Rykiel in 2009
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| Born |
Sonia Flis
25 May 1930 Neuilly-sur-Seine, France
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| Died | 25 August 2016 (aged 86) Paris, France
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| Occupation | Fashion designer, writer |
| Spouse(s) |
Sam Rykiel
(m. 1953–1968) |
| Children | Nathalie Rykiel Jean-Philippe Rykiel |
Sonia Rykiel (born Flis; French pronunciation: [sɔn.ja ʁi.kjɛl]; May 25, 1930 – August 25, 2016) was a famous French fashion designer and writer. She became well-known for creating the "Poor Boy Sweater." This sweater even appeared on the cover of the French Elle magazine!
Because of her amazing knitwear designs and new fashion ideas, people called her the "Queen of Knits." The Sonia Rykiel brand started in 1968 when she opened her first store. It sold clothes, accessories, and perfumes. Sonia Rykiel was also a writer, and her first book came out in 1979. In 2012, she shared that she had Parkinson's disease. She passed away from problems related to the disease on August 25, 2016.
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Early Life and Family
Sonia Flis was born on May 25, 1930, in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France. Her parents were Jewish. Her mother was from Poland, and her father was a watchmaker from Romania. Sonia was the oldest of five sisters.
When she was 17, in 1948, she got a job dressing window displays. This was at a fabric store in Paris called the Grande Maison de Blanc.
In 1953, Sonia married Sam Rykiel. He owned a clothing store called Laura. Sonia and Sam had two children, Nathalie and Jean-Philippe Rykiel. They later divorced in 1968.
Sonia Rykiel often wore clothes from her own brand. She usually chose dark colors like green, brown, navy, and black. She once said she liked to dress simply and quickly. Rykiel was also known for her special red hair, cut in a bob with a thick fringe.
Fashion Career
In 1962, Sonia Rykiel was pregnant and couldn't find comfortable clothes. So, she worked with an Italian supplier to design a dress and a sweater. This sweater had high armholes and a snug fit. It was practical and stylish. Soon, her friends wanted these designs too. This sweater became famous as the "Poor Boy Sweater."
Rykiel started selling these sweaters from her husband's store. The "Poor Boy Sweater" even made it onto the cover of French Elle magazine, making Rykiel very well-known. The famous actress Audrey Hepburn bought 14 of these sweaters in different colors! In 1965, Rykiel's husband helped her start the Sonia Rykiel Company. Then, in 1968, she opened her very first store on the Left Bank in Paris.
New Fashion Ideas
Sonia Rykiel came up with many new fashion techniques. She was the first designer to put seams on the outside of clothes. She also left hems unfinished and put fun slogans on her sweaters. Many people also say she helped make wearing black clothes very popular.
In 1972, the fashion newspaper Women's Wear Daily called her the "Queen of Knits." Some even called her "Coco Rykiel," comparing her to the legendary designer Coco Chanel. In 1977, she was the first designer to create a clothing line for a mail-order company called 3 Suisses. The next year, she launched her first perfume, named Septième sens (Seventh Sense). Rykiel also helped decorate the inside of famous hotels like the Hôtel de Crillon and the Hôtel Lutetia.
Sonia Rykiel designed the costumes for the French musical comedy Les Dix Commandements. Her daughter, Nathalie Rykiel, became the president of the Sonia Rykiel company in 2007. In October 2008, a fashion show celebrated the brand's 40th birthday. Many famous designers, like Ralph Lauren and Jean-Paul Gaultier, showed their ideas of the "Rykiel woman." The brand's designs were also featured in an exhibition at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris.
In December 2009, Rykiel worked with H&M to create a special collection called "Sonia Rykiel pour H&M." A big event was held in Paris to celebrate this collection.
Company Changes
In 2012, a company from Hong Kong called First Heritage Brands became the main owner of the Sonia Rykiel Company. They bought 80 percent of the company, while the Rykiel family kept 20 percent. Later that year, Geraldo da Conceicao became the artistic director, followed by Julie de Libran the next year.
Sadly, in 2019, the Sonia Rykiel brand had to close down its operations.
Writing Career
Sonia Rykiel was also a talented writer. She wrote several books about fashion. She also wrote a collection of stories for children and columns for magazines. Her first book was published in 1979. In 2012, she co-wrote a book called N'oubliez pas que je joue (Don't forget it's a game) with a journalist named Judith Perrignon.
Music and Film Appearances
Sonia Rykiel worked with the artist Malcolm McLaren on a song called "Who the Hell is Sonia Rykiel?" This song was on McLaren's 1995 album, Paris.
Rykiel also had a small role in Robert Altman's 1994 movie Prêt-à-Porter. The director was inspired to make the movie after seeing one of Rykiel's fashion shows. The main character in the film, played by actress Anouk Aimée, was based on Sonia Rykiel. In 1998, Rykiel appeared as a character named Hortense in the French comedy film Riches, belles, etc..
Later Life and Legacy
Sonia Rykiel passed away at her home in Paris on the morning of August 25, 2016. She was 86 years old. Her death was caused by problems from Parkinson's disease. She had shared in 2012 that she had been living with the disease for 15 years. Her children, Nathalie and Jean-Philippe Rykiel, survived her.
French President François Hollande called Rykiel "a pioneer." Many people remembered her as a creative and important figure in fashion.
Honors and Awards
Sonia Rykiel received many awards and honors for her work:
- Oscar from Fashion Group International of New York (1986)
- Officer of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (1993)
- Award for Design Excellence from the Chicago Historical Society's Costume Committee (1994)
- Officer of l'Ordre National de la Légion d'Honneur (1996)
- Trophée Whirlpool des Femmes in Gold entrepreneurial award (1997)
- Commander of the National Order of Merit (2001)
- Woman of the Year from the Association des Amis du Musée de Tel-Aviv (2002)
- Promoted to Commander of l'ordre national de la Légion d'Honneur (2008)
- Grande Médaille de Vermeil de la Ville de Paris
- Promoted to Commander of l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres for her contribution to arts and literature (2012)
- Promoted to Grand Officer of the National Order of Merit (2013)
- In September 2018, a street in Paris was named after Sonia Rykiel.
See also
In Spanish: Sonia Rykiel para niños
