Apple’s latest collaboration isn’t a gadget, it’s a… bag? A bag-ish iPhone holder thing?
The iPhone Pocket, designed with Japanese fashion house Issey Miyake, is a colorful “3D-knitted” sleeve meant to help customers wear their iPhone like an accessory rather than carry it in a stuffy old handbag or pocket. It goes on sale November 14 as a limited-edition release, starting at a buttock-clenching $149 for the short-strap version or $229 for the long-strap version.
The design is undeniably bold. Made in Japan, It’s made from the same pleated fabric style that made Miyake famous, stretching to fit any iPhone and a few small extras. The open, ribbed texture even lets you glimpse what’s inside.
It’s a refreshing return to fun colors after the muted pastels of the iPhone 17 lineup – but the practicality is questionable. Apple says it can be worn in a variety of ways, from fanny pack to shoulder strap to tied onto a bag, yet that freedom might be exactly what makes it feel insecure. A loosely hanging iPhone, half-visible through mesh fabric, sounds like an open invitation to gravity or thieves.
Still, there’s no denying its visual appeal, as shown by Apple’s neatly arranged media photoshoot. As a fashion statement, it could be a hit – but whether it proves appealing to everyday customers is another story.