H&M has extended its designer collaboration to the world of lingerie and related accessories for women, with exclusive pieces to be launched in-store in December.

The collection will be launched in 1,500 H&M stores worldwide and at the same time guest designer Sonia Rykiel will make the collection available in her boutiques around the world.

Ever fans of surprises, H&M and Rykiel also announced a second collaboration for spring 2010, featuring an iconic knitwear collection for women and girls (one to eight years) accompanied by playful accessories. This second collection will be launched in around 250 H&M stores in February.

Rykiel was born in Paris, France in 1930. At the age of 17, she was employed to dress the window displays in a Parisian textile store. She was married to the owner of a boutique which sold elegant clothing.

In 1962, she just couldn't find any soft sweaters to wear when she was pregnant so she used her husband's supplier from Venice to design her own.

Rykiel, pictured right, created her first maternity dresses and tiny sweater. The sweater became her symbol and she was crowned 'Queen of Knits' by the Americans in 1967.

The clothing went back seven times for alterations before she was satisfied with it. From then, she experimented with seams inside out, took away the hem and lining, and created a range of fragrances.

Her first creation was called the Poor Boy Sweater and she started selling it from her husband's label, Laura. It made the cover of ELLE fashion magazine and brought her fame.

She later became the first designer to put seams on the outside of a garment and to print words on her sweaters. In particular, she still favours long clinging sweaters or small cropped pullovers, large rolled-back cuffs and long shawls. Her colours are usually beige, grey, dark blue and charcoal.

Rykiel has written many books, including an A to Z of fashion, and a collection of children's stories. In 1980 she was voted one of the world's 10 most elegant women. She proved that knitwear can follow any trend.

"It is a hallmark of Sonia Rykiel to think of all women because fashion is about a certain spirit more than a question of means. This collaboration fits perfectly with our philosophy.

"The collection is an ideal way to offer the essence of Rykiel to women around the world. The knitwear collection is perfect for welcoming a colourful new season," said Nathalie Rykiel, president and artistic director of Sonia Rykiel.

Swedish fashion chain Hennes & Mauritz (H&M) has reported a 4.1 per cent rise in third-quarter net profit, helped by currency effects and new store openings and said it will pace up its expansion.

Europe's No. 2 fashion retailer - which has a store in Bahrain City Centre - said net profit in the three months to August 31, its fiscal third quarter, increased to $508 million.

Sales for the period rose 12.4 per cent to $4 billion.

H&M had 1,840 stores at the end of August, up from 1,618 a year earlier.

It said it has changed its 2009 expansion plan to 240 new stores from 225 previously and has a positive view on future business opportunities.

"Sales were satisfying in Sweden, Norway and Germany as well as in the new markets," H&M said in a statement, adding however that sales were weak in markets such as Spain, the US and France.

It said the weak sales were mainly due to the continued recession.