Sonia Rykiel
Jane Thompson
Last week saw the passing of two monumental women- Sonia Rykiel and Jane Thompson, both leaders and extraordinary designers in their respective fields. It seems fitting that we honor their achievements and their legacy as pioneers.
Relatively close in age, as they were in their 80s when they died, Rykiel and Thompson came from decidedly different backgrounds. Yet they made their way in the world, overlapping only slightly in the arena of design and fashion. It is very likely that they knew of each other, but might never have meet.
Jane Thompson was the wife of the late architect Ben Thompson and was his collaborator and partner in all aspects of their design world. Working with Ben, she changed the look and feel of Harvard Square and the waterfront in Boston.
For Lucy, growing up in Cambridge was simply too cool. There were Harvard boys to ogle at the Coop, favorite restaurants like the Wursthaus with its dark paneling and beers with names too long to pronounce, and Elsie’s for the thickest roast beef sandwiches ever. 
And there was Design Research – a store we have written about often. DR was almost too cool – with Scandinavian furniture and the distinctive Marimekko fabric used in home decoration and fashion. If you didn’t own a Marimekko dress or have some of the brightly patterned pillows, you were just not cool. And then there was the Harvest Restaurant in Cambridge, another Jane inspiration and way ahead of its time. It was farm to table before any of us knew what that even meant.
And as we got older, we saw the transformation of the Boston waterfront with the development of Faneuil Hall Marketplace, another brilliant vision of the Thompsons. She was an influencer before the term became mainstream. She forever changed the way we look at design from kitchen utensils, to the redevelopment of historic buildings.
Poorboy Sweater
Like Coco Chanel, Sonia Rykiel put her name on her label and paved the way for Donna Karan, and Diane Von Furstenberg and many more to do the same.Her signature knitwear and the iconic Poorboy sweater were always elegant, artfully created and
beautifully manufactured. They were simply pieces to own for a lifetime. With no design background, Rykiel built a successful label based on the practical need for fashion that worked for everyday women. She took knitwear to another level. With her shocking red mane, she was seen at fashion shows as a force to be reckoned with. She kept her hand on the design look and feel of her label until she was in her late 70s.
We commend these two women of substance, vision and extraordinary style. Sweet journey to you both.
With admiration,
Lucy and Claudia,.
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