Apple’s 3D-knitted iPhone Pocket contains PU

Apple’s iPhone Pocket launches tomorrow, Friday, November 14. The body-worn case is a collaboration between the US-based tech giant and Japanese design house Issey Miyake.

The case, which is of singular 3D-knitted construction, is designed to fit any iPhone, and has already raised eyebrows because of its price: USD149.95 for the short-strap design and USD229.95 for the long-strap variant.

The elasticity which allows the case to fit any iPhone, from the smallest variants to the oversized iPhone 17 Pro Max has drawn comparison online to the “mankini” worn by Sacha Baron-Cohen in his film Borat. The iPhone Pocket and Borat’s mankini likely contain elastane, the drawn polyurethane fiber. According to the product description on the Apple Store, the case is composed of 85% polyester, 14% nylon and 1% polyurethane.

The iPhone Pocket will be available at select Apple Store locations and online in France, Greater China, Italy, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, the UK, and the US.

The iPhone Pocket features a ribbed open structure with the qualities of the original pleats made famous by the fashion designer Issey Miyake. Born from the idea of creating an additional pocket, its understated design fully encloses iPhone, expanding to fit more of a user’s everyday items. When stretched, the open textile subtly reveals its contents and allows users to peek at their iPhone display. iPhone Pocket can be worn in a variety of ways — handheld, tied onto bags, or worn directly on the body. Featuring a distinctive color palette, the short strap design is available in eight colors, and the long strap design in three colors.

“The design of iPhone Pocket speaks to the bond between iPhone and its user, while keeping in mind that an Apple product is designed to be universal in aesthetic and versatile in use,” said Yoshiyuki Miyamae, design director of Miyake Design Studio. “iPhone Pocket explores the concept of ‘the joy of wearing iPhone in your own way.’ The simplicity of its design echoes what we practice at Issey Miyake – the idea of leaving things less defined to allow for possibilities and personal interpretation.”

“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 – 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.”

Photos: Apple

Apple