Iris Apfel might be 90 years old, but she’s showing no signs of slowing down. The self-proclaimed “geriatric starlet” will launch a small handbag collection later this year.
Apfel worked with president of L & Leung Design Group Lisa Nunziata on the line, dubbed Extinction. The cleverly titled collection is a nod to one of the first conversations the pair enjoyed.
“When I met Iris, I told her I’m the last of a dying breed, and she shot back, ‘If you’re the end of a dying breed, then I must be extinct,‘” Nunziata recounted. The twosome is having fun with the title, and has even adopted the dodo as its logo!
At her age, Apfel has no time for inferior fabrics. The 12-piece accessories collection will be a celebration of luxury with purses made from Moroccan lambskin, half calf, and genuine snake. I expected such exotic materials would send the line’s prices sky high, but the bags are surprisingly affordable. The cheapest piece will retail for $228, while the most expensive purse will top $398.
“There’s not much around this price point,” Apfel conceded. “I’m a great believer that a lot of people on this planet want good design and high quality at a price.“
While the prices are right, the bold colors won’t be to everyone’s tastes. The handbags will come in five vibrant shades that don’t “play it safe.” We can also expect Iris Apfel’s purses to be very spacious. After all, as she cheekily admits, her “eyeglasses are so big they don’t fit into smaller bags.”
Iris Apfel’s Extinction bags will hit high end department stores in October.
