Sonja, South African born, of German descent was educated first at the German School in Johannesburg, and later at Bryanston High, Roedean (JHB) and finishing at Damelin College. Sonja went on to study fashion design at Leggats Academy of Design (JHB), and further studied tailoring and pattern cutting with Madame de Ernay School of fashion design and tailoring. Having completed her studies she was hired by Leggatts to work as pattern cutter and pattern grader for the LEGGATTS fashion house.
After a year she was hired by Basil Lishansky's fashion house CLOWNS as Ladies Fashion Designer creating ranges for Truworths, Edgar's and Foshini Stores nation wide. Sonja learnt at an early age to work under pressure together with factories whilst designing and running a sample room with machinists.
She went on to work as ladies and men's wear designer for Tin Pan Alley, Nine Big Boys (sister companies to Clowns) and ' No! Don't Go ' Jeans for the duration of 6 years. To further her experience as Designer and pattern cutter, Sonja moved to London and was employed by Amanda Wakeley as assistant designer.
In 1996, yearning for Africa she returned to Johannesburg to start her own clothing line catering for private clientele and also supplying boutiques such as 'Pallu' (Peta Eggiert-Symes), WIZARDS and DIXI boutique of Sandton.
In 2000 Sonja moved to Cape Town and soon joined Designer Emporium, Blackbeard and Dare of Cavendish and India Jane of Kalk Bay to showcase and sell her collection.
The beauty of Africa has always been an inspiration to her. Sonja feels at one with Nature and likes to reflect that in her collection. Her designs are classical in structure with edgy touches in fabric combinations, flashes of animal print , natural fibres and simple, structured lines. Sonja works with a small team of machinists and cutters who have been in the industry for 30 years. Fit, finish and attention to detail is their motto in creating designs for boutiques and clients Nationwide and Internationally.