Sonia Petroff

Sonia Petroff was a highly respected accessories designer in the 1960s, 70s and 80s. A Bulgarian aristocrat who fled the country during WWII, Sonia eventually settled in Rome where she designed for Valentino, Balmain and Nina Ricci, among others, as well as for her own private clients. Taking inspiration from nature and the Mediterranean, mythological symbolism and art history, Sonia produced her jewellery and accessory designs through local Roman artisans and sent pieces to the jet-set and beau monde from Buenos Aires to London. Her bold, joyful designs echoed her own approach to vivacious and adventurous living. In 2017, Sonia’s archive of designs passed to her niece by marriage, Maria Leoni-Sceti. Maria spent over a year sifting through Sonia’s prototypes and sketches, photographing and cataloguing the archive. Taking inspiration from this treasure trove, Maria went on a search for new Italian artisans who could recreate the vintage beauty of the archival pieces, finding a handful of small artisan studios in Italy who produce the brand’s pieces today. Maria relaunched the brand Sonia Petroff in 2018 and continues to drive and curate the bold and aesthetic vision of the brand.