Our Story

"I see cashmere as a way of life. Like a friend who knows exactly what you need in the moment. Rather subtle – with that special touch that flatters without overpowering." 

As a pioneer of cashmere, Iris von Arnim revolutionized the German market in the 1980s and continues to represent luxurious knitwear with a unique touch and feel. The family-owned company, named after its founder, has been creating timeless cashmere for over 45 years and embodies the "Forever Sweater" philosophy. 

With its creative heart in Hamburg, Iris von Arnim interprets the spirit of the times in luxury knitwear – timeless, durable, and pure. For decades, their goal has been to unite elegance and comfort, creating favorite pieces that become lifelong companions.

Childhood and Youth

Born in 1945 in Silesia, Iris von Arnim lost her parents at an early age and grew up in Hanover. After spending time with relatives in the USA, she began searching for her place in life.

“Perhaps my perseverance is my secret sauce. My will to survive, shaped by my life story, had to be strongly developed. A certain naivety and innocence are probably still part of my DNA.”

Munich: The Beginnings & Turning Point

In 1972, Iris moved to Munich, where she worked in various jobs but remained unhappy. She was an assistant to photographer Tassilo Trist, a reporter for BILD newspaper, and worked in the PR department of a record label. 

“I wasn’t happy in any of these jobs. But I was constantly broke and desperately needed money. My most lucrative job was at Oktoberfest.” 

The "seeker," as Iris refers to herself in hindsight, and the "hippie," as her son Valentin von Arnim calls her, discovered two of her many passions during that time: the joy of organizing large gatherings and bringing together different, inspiring people, and her new hobby, knitting. 

Sitting on a flokati rug, smoking a joint, and listening to the Rolling Stones, Iris von Arnim began knitting her first sweaters. 

After a serious car accident, Iris was bedridden for several months following multiple surgeries. A friend brought her a record player and yarn in various colours to pass the time in the hospital. 

“At that time, I could only knit basic stitches, so I played with the colours. This led to a completely new knitting technique with harmonious colour transitions. My famous rainbow sweater made from angora. It was unique at the time, and my friends were snatching the sweaters right out of my hands.”

Hamburg: The Breakthrough

In 1976, recovered and full of new ideas, Iris moved to Hamburg and opened her first store. Her breakthrough came a year later on the island of Sylt with her iconic rainbow sweaters, which gained cult status there. Iris von Arnim had found her first loyal fans of the brand. 

“That summer, it was a cult trend in Kampen to own a rainbow sweater. That was my breakthrough and my first mention in the German press. In the fall of 1979, I launched my first collection of rainbow and motif sweaters, which were knitted by women working from home. I then took my small collection to IGEDO in Düsseldorf and Munich Fashion Week.” 

Her first major customers were fashion stores like Eickhoff and Maendler, who placed orders that could no longer be fulfilled by home knitters. The Iris von Arnim brand was born. When cheaper imitations hit the market, Iris sought something new: cashmere. At the time, cashmere was only available in Italy – a luxury that Iris brought to Germany and successfully established. 

“Finally, I had found something I was particularly good at. In my early 30s. So, it's never too late for a fresh start.”

Brand Growth

In the 1980s and 1990s, her son Valentin, born in 1979, experienced the flourishing of the brand firsthand. 

In the 1990s, Iris opened her first independent showroom in Düsseldorf to showcase the variety of the Iris von Arnim collection and design world. In 1998, on the 20th anniversary of the brand, Iris opened her first store on Sylt – the island where everything began with the iconic rainbow sweaters. 

In 2006, Valentin von Arnim joined the company and has led the strategic and operational business of the luxury knitwear label since 2009. He established the UOMO collection as a permanent part of the brand. His vision: design for lovers of luxury knitwear with an open mindset. He also drove the company's expansion with the opening of new boutiques in Munich (2012) and Vienna (2023), as well as the launch of the online shop (2013). Today, Iris von Arnim collections reach customers in over 60 countries worldwide. 

“As a family business, we continue telling the story of my mother. She is the founder and the heart of the company. My task is to translate her values, her sense of quality, her creativity, her curiosity, her passion, and her craftsmanship into the present day. Honesty, trust, and tradition play a major role in that.”

Today and the Future 

Today, the family business is one of the few owner-managed luxury brands in Germany that is internationally successful.

Iris von Arnim stands for subtle luxury, intimate and personal. With a close connection to its customers, the brand creates pieces crafted to the highest standards – unique in style and craftsmanship. 

In the future, the mission of Iris von Arnim remains to create understated luxury and the finest cashmere and knit sweaters that become loyal companions and lifelong friends.