Description
SR Sonia Rykiel Paris rare brooch 10 x 4 cm Sonia Rykiel (1930–2016) was a pioneering French fashion designer celebrated for her innovative approach to knitwear and her role in redefining women’s fashion in the 1960s and beyond. Born Sonia Flis in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France, Rykiel began her fashion journey in 1962 when she designed a form-fitting sweater to wear during her pregnancy. This “Poor Boy Sweater,” characterized by its long sleeves and shrunken fit, gained popularity after being featured on the cover of Elle magazine in 1963. The sweater became a favorite of celebrities like Audrey Hepburn and Brigitte Bardot, marking Rykiel’s entry into the fashion world. In 1968, Rykiel opened her first boutique on Paris’s Left Bank, establishing the Sonia Rykiel label. Rykiel was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1996 but kept her condition private for many years. She publicly revealed her struggle with the disease in 2012 through her book N’oubliez Pas Que Je Joue (Don’t Forget That I’m Acting). She passed away in 2016 at the age of 86.
