Sonia Rykiel

Sonia Rykiel is a comprehensive retrospective monograph edited by Olivier Saillard that celebrates the life, work, and

creative legacy of the French fashion designer Sonia Rykiel. Published in 2009 by Rizzoli to coincide with Rykiel’s fortieth anniversary in fashion, the volume documents her prolific career, highlighting her influence on ready-to-wear, knitwear design, and contemporary style. The book presents a rich visual archive of over forty years of seasonal collections, featuring photographs from runway shows, studio sessions, and archival images of Rykiel’s most iconic garments. Through essays, personal anecdotes, and extensive imagery, the publication explores Rykiel’s design philosophy — including her pioneering use of knitwear, signature motifs such as inside-out seams, bold stripes, and message sweaters, and her contribution to the transformation of women’s fashion. Illustrated with a diverse range of editorial and campaign photography, Sonia Rykiel positions the designer as a major figure in late twentieth-century fashion, whose work has resonated across generations and continues to influence contemporary design discourse.