When Sonia Rykiel opened her first boutique in 1968 on Paris' Left bank she gained swift recognition for her soft sweaters - a liberated antithesis to strict '50s tailoring - and her inside-out seams. Sonia by Sonia Rykiel was launched in 1990 as a smart, trendy little sister to the original line, with her widely recognized playful statement slogan tees and sweaters, as well as chic mini dresses splashed with stripes and polka dots.