Apple and iconic Japanese designer ISSEY MIYAKE dropped the iPhone Pocket—a limited-edition, 3D–knitted, wearable pouch inspired by the concept of ‘a piece of cloth. Available in vibrant colorways and two strap lengths, the iPhone Pocket is made to hold, and, as ISSEY MIYAKE notes, wear not just your iPhone but a handful of daily essentials.
The Premise: From Pleats to Pockets
Drawing on MIYAKE’s Pleats Please legacy and the A-POC (A Piece of Cloth) concept, iPhone Pocket boasts a singular 3D-knitted construction…inspired by reinterpreting the utility of iconic pleated clothing. Its ribbed mesh fabric is robust, stretchy, and irreversibly chic: when stretched, the open textile subtly reveals its contents, allowing users to peek at their iPhone display. The bag closes around your phone, morphing into a pouch when filled with AirPods or other must-haves, and, thanks to its flexible design, can be worn as a wristlet, crossbody, tied to your tote, or dangled as a charm.
Universal in Style, Flexible in Use
“Apple and ISSEY MIYAKE share a design approach that celebrates craftsmanship, simplicity, and delight,” said Molly Anderson, Apple’s vice president of Industrial Design. “This clever extra pocket exemplifies those ideas and is a natural accompaniment to our products. The color palette of iPhone Pocket was intentionally designed to mix and match with all our iPhone models and colors l, allowing users to create their own personalized combination. Its recognizable silhouette offers a beautiful new way to carry your iPhone, AirPods, and favorite everyday items.”
Press and Influencer Reactions: “Sock” or “Wearable Delight”?
The iPhone Pocket’s design turned heads, launched memes, and dominated tech/fashion discourse online:
- The New York Times called it a ribbed, vividly hued knit pouch that can be worn cross-body or attached to a handbag strap, dangling like a charm, noting the intentionally ambiguous, open-ended design.
- CNET described it as a $230 Gadget Mankini, reviewing both the styling potential and the high price tag. The shorter iPhone Pocket is more like a wristlet bag, while the longer one turns your iPhone into a crossbody accessory. The wearable tech trend is real.
- Vogue and Bloomberg framed the release as a moment of connecting the dots—both a nod to Steve Jobs (a Miyake fan) and evidence of Apple’s ongoing embrace of fashion as a core product experience.
Social media split between playful ribbing, $230 for a cut-up sock (BBC), and genuine design appreciation, with UAE and Paris influencers posting how I style my iPhone, and Pocket guides.
The Legacy: Steve Jobs, Miyake, and a New Chapter
Steve Jobs’ friendship with Issey Miyake is a design legend: Jobs wore Miyake’s black turtlenecks for decades, even pitching MIYAKE to create work uniforms for Apple staff in the 1980s. The iPhone Pocket is seen as a full-circle moment, with this collaboration standing as the most high-profile joint accessory since Apple Watch Hermès.
Industry Take: Smart Fashion, Smart Marketing
Reviewers like The Gadget Flow and Dezeen point to the iPhone Pocket’s blend of digital-age utility and Japanese textile tradition that it’s a wearable piece of design that carries both function and personalit a flexible, customizable pocket that’s both playful and premium.
Will the iPhone Pocket Catch On?
Within days of launch, the $230 pouch sold out online in several regions, demonstrating demand for high-concept, fashion-driven tech accessories, even as debate continues about value and versatility. Analysts expect similar collaborations between Apple and luxury/fashion names, with the line between wearables and wearable fashion rapidly disappearing.
