Breaking: Sonia Rykiel Up Next for H&M

On the heels of releasing lookbook photos from its upcoming Jimmy Choo collection, H&M announced today that its next design collaborator will be Sonia Rykiel. December 5, 2009 will mark the in-store launch of exclusive pieces designed by the Parisian "Queen of Knits." The winter 2009 collection, consisting of lingerie and women's accessories, will be followed by a knitwear collection with accessories for the following spring 2010 season.

The announcement marks a few firsts for H&M: its first design collaboration for lingerie, and the first launch to occur concurrently in both H&M stores and the designer's own boutiques. That's right, come December you will be able to buy the exact same pieces from an H&M as you would a Sonia Rykiel location.

The announcement marks the latest in a number of expansions of the French design house (whose spring 2009 runway look is pictured at left) since daughter Nathalie Rykiel, now its president and artistic director, began working with her mother in 1977.

"The Sonia Rykiel pour H&M lingerie collection is the ideal way to offer the essence of Rykiel to a great number of women around the world, and a beautiful way to close the year. The knitwear collection is perfect for welcoming a colourful new season," said Rykiel in the announcement released this morning.

While the lingerie collection will be available in 1,500 H&M locations around the world this December, the spring 2010 knitwear collection for both women and girls will be launched in around 250 locations on February 20, 2010.

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Photo credit: WWD