Iris Apfel was an American businesswoman, interior designer, fashion icon, and actress, collaborated with her husband, Carl, in business from 1950 to 1992. Throughout her career in textiles, she secured notable contracts, including one with the White House spanning nine presidencies.
Bio/Wiki
Age-102 years
Height-168 cm
Weight-55 kg
Born-29 August 1921
Died- 1 March 2024
Birthplace-Queens, New York, United States
Spouse-Carl Apfel (m. 1948–2015)
Profession-American businesswoman and interior designer
Nationality- American
Cause of Death
Iris Apfel, renowned for her expertise in textiles, interior design, and distinctive fashion sense, has passed away at the age of 102. Her commercial agent, Lori Sale, described her as “extraordinary.”
The cause of her death has not been disclosed. The news was also shared on her verified Instagram page, which just a day before had marked her 102nd-and-a-half birthday, celebrating Leap Day.
Family
Iris Apfel’s parents were Samuel Barrel and Sadye Barrel. Her father was the proprietor of a glass and mirror business, while her mother owned a fashion boutique. Apfel was the only child ofher parents.
Husband
On February 22, 1948, Iris Apfel married Carl Apfel. They were married for 67 years until Carl’s passing on August 1, 2015, at the age of 100.
Children
Iris studied art history at New York University and pursued art education at the University of Wisconsin. The Apfels chose not to have children, in part due to the extensive travel required by their work. Iris didn’t want their children to be raised by a nanny.
Career
In her youth, Apfel began her career as a copywriter for Women’s Wear Daily and assisted interior designer Elinor Johnson in dressing apartments for resale, refining her knack for finding unique items. In 1950, she and her husband founded Old World Weavers, specializing in reproducing historic fabrics and sourcing textiles from Europe.
Apfel worked on various design restoration projects, including nine presidential administrations at the White House. She also traveled extensively, collecting non-Western artisanal clothing for high-society events. In 2011, she became a visiting professor at the University of Texas at Austin. Apfel ventured into collaborations, including with WiseWear for smart jewelry, and in 2018, published her biography. She was honored with a Barbie doll in her likeness by Mattel in 2018 and signed a modeling contract with IMG at the age of 97 in 2019.
Net Worth
At the time of her death, her net worth was estimated to be around $30 million.
