The collaboration between Apple and Japanese design house Issey Miyake introduces a wearable accessory unlike anything seen before. Called the iPhone Pocket, it blends tech utility with high-fashion aesthetics in a 3D-knitted fabric pouch meant to hold an iPhone plus small essentials. Pricing begins at US $149.95 for the short-strap version and rises to US $229.95 for the long-strap model. In India this works out to roughly ₹13,200 and ₹20,400 respectively. Rather than protect a phone in the conventional sense. The iPhone Pocket embraces the idea of wearing a phone as part of an outfit. Design director Yoshiyuki Miyamae explains that the piece embodies the concept of “wearing an iPhone your own way.” Its construction draws from Miyake signature pleating technique, with ribbed open mesh that flexes to reveal the device screen subtly when pressed.
Two strap lengths define the product. The short version loops onto a wrist or bag and comes in eight bold colours such as mandarin orange, purple, peacock blue and black. The long version works as a cross-body carry option and offers three muted shades: sapphire, cinnamon and black. Both versions launch globally on November 14 at select Apple Stores and online.
Fabric choice and fit matter here. The accessory uses materials listed as 14 % nylon, 85 % polyester and 1 % polyurethane, according to official specs. It measures roughly 1 cm in height and 80 cm in length in the long strap variant. While durability or protection levels don’t match those of hard cases. The knit design aims to offer stretch, secure fit and wireless-charging pass-through without removing the phone.
Beyond function, the collaboration carries symbolic weight. Steve Jobs famed black turtleneck came from Issey Miyake, and this accessory ties into that legacy in more than one way. The joint design effort underscores both brands’ shared ethos of minimalist form and utility.
Critics ask whether users actually needed a cloth pouch at a premium price. Some debate the value proposition since the accessory doesn’t provide protection in the traditional sense and its utility is lifestyle-driven. That said, for fashion-forward consumers the iPhone Pocket offers both a statement and an extension of personal style.
In today’s market where phone form-factors dominate attention, the iPhone Pocket marks a shift: from protective tech gear toward wearable tech fashion. Whether this wrist or cross-body carry option becomes a trend remains uncertain, but it signals Apple willingness to blur product categories.
