Julie de Libran Haute Couture Fall-Winter 2019-2020. RUNWAY MAGAZINE ® Collections. RUNWAY NOW / RUNWAY NEW

Julie de Libran Haute Couture Fall-Winter 2019-2020. Designer that “brings the house down”. RUNWAY MAGAZINE ® Collections. RUNWAY NOW / RUNWAY NEW

Former designer of Sonia Rykiel Fashion House Julie de Libran, a “Bo-bo” designer showed her own collection during Haute Couture Fall-Winter 2019-2020 fashion week in Paris. Her CV includes stints at Prada, Versace, and Louis Vuitton in addition to her performance as artistic director at Sonia Rykeil fashion house (first high position in fashion house), which brought “the house down”.

Sonia Rykiel died liquidation bankruptcy. 2007 - creative work of Sonia Rykiel, 2019 - work of  Julie de Libran
Sonia Rykiel died liquidation bankruptcy. 2007 – creative work of Sonia Rykiel, 2019 – work of Julie de Libran

She did her presentation fully in “bo-bo” tradition – she opened doors of her own house, and invited guests to enjoy the presentation, sipping self-made drinks (a Skerzo made from grape juice and her husband’s Armagnac) and home-made snacks.

And there’s a story to tell about how Julie de Libran decided to start her own line of clothing. In April 2019 Sonia Rykiel House filed for bankruptcy protection in France and liquidated in the US. July 25, 2019 Commercial Court of Paris has pronounced the liquidation for lack of buyers. The stores, as well as Sonia Rykiel Fashion House intellectual property and archives, will be damped on the market for sale after vulgar use, and damage beyond repair. 

Sonia Rykiel Spring Summer 2020 Pre Collection by Julie de Libran
Sonia Rykiel Spring Summer 2020 Pre Collection by Julie de Libran

In May 2014 Nathalie Rykiel, daughter of Sonia Rykiel and vice-president of the fashion house, appointed new artistic director Julie de Libran, who definitely was not able for great style, or even for compilation from archives of Sonia Rykiel. “Bo-bo” designer Julie de Libran (promoter of Parisian, so called “bohemian” style) produced series of “ugly-buckley” looks since 2016, as she was no longer guided by Sonia Rykiel.

Loyal buyers and admirers of Sonia Rykiel left the house with regret, and house didn’t find new customers who would be interested in dull, featureless and unimaginative looks, available in billions on mass-market for high prices.

Julie de Libran Haute Couture Fall Winter 2019-2020
Julie de Libran Haute Couture Fall Winter 2019-2020

When Sonia Rykiel House filed for bankruptcy in April 2019 Julie de Libran “stepped away” (read “run like a rat”) from fashion house and decided to launch her own brand. June 30, 2019, a month ago Julie de Libran during Haute Couture fashion week in Paris, opened doors of her own house to present her brand and her first collection.

To make this story short: what was build by very creative person during many years (51 years, 1968-2019 to be exact, time of existence of Sonia Rykiel Fashion House) can be easily destroyed by couple of careless, self-involved, lacking values “Bo-bos” in 3 years.

All of this not without “guidance”, special “management and administration” of Jean-Marc Loubier, CEO of the First Heritage Brands (LVMH plus Chinese investment fund), who owned Sonia Rykiel fashion house since 2012.

Louis Vuitton. This is not a rocket, this is a grave stone heavily falling on a head of great fashion house  of Sonia Rykiel, with support of Nathalie Rykiel and Julie de Libran
Louis Vuitton. This is not a rocket, this is a grave stone heavily falling on a head of great fashion house of Sonia Rykiel, with support of Nathalie Rykiel and Julie de Libran

So here is first collection of Julie de Libran presented at Haute Couture Fall-Winter 2019-2020 fashion week in Paris.