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French fashion designer Sonia Rykiel passed away at her home in Paris at the age of 86 on Thursday morning. The renowned designer battled Parkinson’s disease for 20 years.
Born in Paris in 1930 to a Russian mother and Romanian father, Sonia Rykiel was the eldest of five daughters. Known as the “Queen of Knitwear,” she made a name for herself in Paris after opening her namesake store in 1968. Rykiel went on to dress iconic figures such as Audrey Hepburn, Brigitte Bardot, and Catherine Deneuve.
The designer is succeeded by two children, Jean-Philippe and Nathalie Rykiel. Her daughter, Nathalie, is the managing artistic director and CEO of Sonia Rykiel.
Homepage image: Nicolas Genin / Flickr
