Sonia Rykiel

The brand was founded by French designer Sonia Rykiel, who opened her first boutique on the Rue de Grenelle in Paris in 1968. She was widely nicknamed the "Queen of Knits" for her revolutionary approach to comfortable fabrics. Her designs embraced a more relaxed and empowering silhouette for modern women during the 1960s and 1970s.

Sonia Rykiel revolutionized women's fashion by popularizing stretchy, comfortable knitwear that didn't require corsets or heavy linings. She is also famous for her distinct horizontal stripes and the "poor boy" sweater. Her designs liberated women's bodies from the restrictive formal wear of the era.

The Sonia Rykiel brand faced financial difficulties and was eventually acquired by G-III Apparel Group in 2016. After temporarily suspending operations, the brand has aimed to relaunch its iconic knitwear lines. The original designer, Sonia Rykiel herself, passed away in 2016.

While deeply rooted in Parisian fashion, her clothes were famously worn by several iconic figures, including Audrey Hepburn and Catherine Deneuve. Her practical yet chic sweaters were highly sought after by actresses of the era. The brand also gained massive popularity in Japan, expanding heavily into the Asian market.