Sonia Rykiel
G-III Apparel Group (acquired 2021, per Wikipedia) · France
Sonia Rykiel is a Paris fashion house founded in 1968 by the designer of the same name, who died in 2016, and known as the Queen of Knitwear. Following a series of ownership changes, Wikipedia lists G-III Apparel Group as owner since its 2021 acquisition. The sources reviewed do not describe the brand's current operations.
| Founded | 1968 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Sonia Rykiel (1930 to 2016) |
| Owner | G-III Apparel Group, per Wikipedia (2021 acquisition) |
| Headquarters | Paris, France |
| Known for | Knitwear |
What is Sonia Rykiel?
Sonia Rykiel is a French fashion house founded by the designer Sonia Rykiel (born Sonia Flis, 1930 to 2016). Britannica says she launched her own label and opened a boutique in 1968, and Wikipedia notes that the company was created in 1965 and the label launched in 1968 with a first Left Bank boutique.
History
Rykiel became known for chic, comfortable ready-to-wear and above all knitwear. Her figure-hugging jersey poor boy sweater appeared on the cover of Elle, and Women's Wear Daily called her the Queen of Knitwear. She is credited with putting seams on the outside, leaving hems unfinished and using slogans on sweaters. The first fragrance, Septième sens, followed in 1978, and in 1977 she designed a line for the mail-order firm 3 Suisses. By 1990 the house had more than 200 retail outlets worldwide, according to Britannica.
Rykiel died in Paris on 25 August 2016, and a Paris street was named after her in 2018.
Ownership history
Wikipedia traces the following changes:
- 2012: Hong Kong-based First Heritage Brands, part of Fung Brands, acquired 80%
- 2016: the family's remaining 20% was sold; the family kept the real estate
- 2019: the operating company was liquidated after a Paris court rejected the only remaining bidder, and brothers Eric and Michael Dayan bought it for a reported 10 million euros
- 2021: G-III Apparel Group acquired the brand
Creative directors have included Geraldo da Conceição, who succeeded April Crichton in 2012, and Julie de Libran from 2013. The sources reviewed do not name a current creative director or describe the brand's activity after 2021.
Why it matters
Sonia Rykiel is a reference point for knitwear-led, women-centred Paris fashion, and its sequence of owners illustrates the difficulties of keeping a founder-led house stable after the founder's death.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns Sonia Rykiel?
According to Wikipedia, G-III Apparel Group acquired the brand in 2021, after Fung Brands' First Heritage Brands and the Dayan brothers had owned it.
Where is Sonia Rykiel from?
Sonia Rykiel is a French house founded in Paris in 1968. Its first boutique was on the Left Bank.