The Life and Legacy of Iris Apfel at 102
On March 3, 2024, the world said farewell to Iris Apfel, a visionary in the realms of interior design, fashion, and business excellence, who died at her Palm Beach home at the age of 102. Apfel’s remarkable journey through life inspires admiration not just for her vibrant and unconventional style but also for her unwavering commitment to living life fully, without letting age define her capabilities or aspirations.
Why Iris Apfel’s Story Matters
Iris Apfel’s life is a tale of perseverance, innovation, and the enduring influence of Jewish culture in the public sphere. Born in New York in 1921 to Jewish parents Samuel and Sadye Barrel, Apfel’s flair for fashion burgeoned early. With her partner in life and business, Carl Apfel, she cofounded Old World Weavers, a company celebrated for its exquisite textiles that graced the spaces of the world’s elite, including Estée Lauder, Greta Garbo, and nine American presidents.
Apfel’s uniquely eclectic fashion sense, characterized by her love for vibrant, large-scale accessories and vintage finds over mainstream brands, made her an icon. Her impact extended beyond the milieu of fashion into a statement about the value of individuality, creativity, and staying true to one’s roots and passions, resonating with the spirit of Jewish perseverance and ingenuity.
The landmark 2005 exhibition of her personal collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, a testament not just to her fashion legacy but also her status as a custodian of cultural heritage, underscores the significance of her contribution. Apfel’s choosing of meaningful artifacts over transient trends perfectly encapsulates the parts of Jewish tradition that embrace continuity through change and steadfastness in the face of shifting fashions of thought and culture.
The Indelible Mark of Iris Apfel
At a compact stature, Iris Apfel was nevertheless a towering figure in every arena she ventured into, from the boardrooms of her business endeavors to the high-fashion galleries of New York City. Ultimately, Apfel’s life story and the aesthetic that she championed serve as a shining beacon for champions of style worldwide — highlighting the power of identity, the beauty of diversity, and the importance of cultural roots.
Her story is particularly poignant for the Jewish community, symbolizing the dynamic adaptability and vibrant self-expression that Jewish people continue to bring to global culture. In remembering Iris Apfel, we cherish not only her contribution to fashion but also her embodiment of a life lived boldly and with authenticity, traits that stand as core values of Jewish and global leadership alike.
This story was first published on jpost.com.