Apple has just introduced a new way to carry an iPhone, and it comes from an unexpected source. The company collaborated with Japanese fashion house Issey Miyake to design the iPhone Pocket, a flexible knitted pouch that fits over the phone like a sleeve. This attachment, available beginning Friday, November 14, transforms the smartphone into something you can wear rather than stuff in your jeans pocket.
The design starts with a single piece of 3D-knitted fabric made in Japan. Engineers at Issey Miyake shaped it using techniques from the brand’s pleated clothing line. It stretches in every direction, forming a ribbed tube that hugs any iPhone model snugly. Pull the sides apart and the open weave lets you glance at the screen without removing the phone. Drop in AirPods, keys or a lip balm and the material expands to hold them all.
- Made of high quality neoprene waterproof material; Dimensions: 7.1 x 3.9 IN (18 x 10 cm), Fits most of smartphones in the market except bigger phones...
- MULTI-FUNCTIONAL: 2 in 1 adjustable & detachable cross body / neck lanyard strap included to make the pouch multi-functional and practical for daily...
- SHOCKPROOF: Protects your valuable electronics device (smartphone, power bank, external hard drive, etc.) against dust, bumps, scratches and moisture
Two strap lengths provide several carrying options, with the shorter one looping around the wrist or tying to a bag handle. There are eight colors here: bright lemon yellow, mandarin orange, purple, pink, peacock blue, sapphire, cinnamon brown, and black. The longer strap transforms the pouch into a crossbody purse in three colors: sapphire, cinnamon, and black. The short strap costs $149.95 and the extended strap costs $229.95 in the United States.
Yoshiyuki Miyamae, who leads design at Miyake Design Studio, explained the thinking behind the shape. His team wanted a simple extra pocket that leaves room for personal style. Apple designers agreed, noting how the colors match every current iPhone finish. Mix a lemon pouch with a cosmic orange phone or black with black for something quieter.
Miyake designers flew to Cupertino with paper models folded like origami, and the development process was back and forth. Apple released the phone’s dimensions and everyday use patterns. Miyamae compared the sessions to musicians jamming: ideas were quickly exchanged, and final design decisions were reached without much debate. One happy accident: Miyake’s planned mandarin tone nearly matched an undisclosed iPhone color almost perfectly.
The pouch is covered in frosted rice paper, similar to a Japanese children’s festival candy bag. Unroll it slowly, and the accessory slides out, ready to use. Only specific countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, France, Greater China, Italy, Japan, Singapore, and South Korea, can place online orders. They are available in-person in ten stores globally, including Apple Regent Street in London and Apple SoHo in New York. Apple refers to this as a limited-edition release, meaning that supplies will be limited.
Steve Jobs wore Issey Miyake turtlenecks for years, but no official product has ever carried both names until now. The iPhone Pocket marks the first fashion-house cooperation since the Apple Watch Hermès a decade ago. Apple’s vice president of industrial design, Molly Anderson, described it as a natural process in which both parties learned from each other about materials and color.
