Sonia Rykiel
FASHION DESIGNER (1930 - 2016)
Sonia Rykiel (née Flis) was born in 1930 in
Neuilly, a suburb of Paris. Her work in the
fashion industry began in 1948, with
employment as a window dresser at the
Grande Maison de Blanc. Following this, in
1954, she took over the management of a
Parisian boutique opened by her parents in
the 1940s, called Laura. Described as
experimental and conceptual, Rykiel's first
designs-a dress for expectant mothers, and
a series of sweaters-were realized during
her time at Laura. Knitwear would come to
define Rykiel's career. Her first skinny-rib
"poor boy" sweaters were sold at Laura in
1962; Audrey Hepburn reportedly bought
fourteen in different colors. Her iconic stripes
featured on the cover of Elle in December
1963, in the form of a vibrant sweater dress
modeled by Françoise Hardy.
Stella McCartney
FASHION DESIGNER (1971 - present)
Stella Nina McCartney is an English fashion
designer best known for her eponymous label.
Born in September 1971 to former Beatle Paul
McCartney and musician, photographer and
animal rights activist Linda McCartney. She is
renowned for her sharp, simple tailoring with a
feminine edge and considerate approach to
wearable design. She is a staunch supporter
of animal rights and a strict vegetarian - she
refuses to use leather or fur in any of her
designs. Instead, her shoes are made of vinyl
or plastic and all belts and bags are made
from raffia and fabric. As of 2012, Stella
McCartney operates 23 freestanding stores in
locations including Manhattan's SoHo,
London's Mayfair, LA's West Hollywood, Paris'
Palais Royal and Milan.
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