Apple teams up with Issey Miyake for a minimalist fashion experiment

Apple’s latest collaboration has turned heads, and sparked debate. The company has partnered with Japanese designer Issey Miyake to launch the iPhone Pocket, a minimalist, 3D-knitted fabric sleeve for carrying an iPhone.

Described by Apple as “a piece of cloth,” the limited-edition accessory merges high fashion with everyday utility, and comes with a price tag of $149.95 to $229.95.

The product will be available from November 14 on Apple’s website and in select Apple Stores across Japan, France, the UK, the U.S., and other regions.

A 3D-knitted blend of form and function

Made in Japan, the iPhone Pocket draws inspiration from Miyake’s pleated textile work, using a ribbed, open-knit structure that stretches to hold phones and other small items.

Apple says the design “transforms a single piece of fabric into form,” while its semi-transparent texture subtly reveals what’s inside, turning an everyday phone carrier into a sculptural fashion piece.

The short-strap version costs $149.95, while the long-strap edition, designed for crossbody wear, sells for $229.95.

Designed to be worn, not just carried

Unlike a traditional phone case, the iPhone Pocket is meant to be worn. It can be tied to a bag, carried by hand, or slung over the shoulder.

According to Yoshiyuki Miyamae, Design Director at Issey Miyake, the goal was to explore “the joy of wearing your iPhone your own way.” Both brands aimed to push users to think about how technology interacts with personal style and expression.

A minimalist color palette

The collection comes in eight short-strap colors and three long-strap versions, including lemon, mandarin, peacock, purple, and sapphire.

True to Miyake’s philosophy, the color palette emphasizes subtlety over flash, designed to blend seamlessly with daily outfits while maintaining a sense of texture and motion.

Collaboration rooted in craftsmanship

Apple’s industrial designers worked closely with Miyake’s textile researchers to refine the structure and feel of the fabric.

The result, Apple says, is “technically impressive,” though reactions have been mixed. Critics have dismissed it as an example of “overdesigned minimalism,” while fans view it as a wearable art piece, an exploration of craftsmanship, technology, and everyday design.

Limited launch in flagship Apple Stores

The iPhone Pocket will debut in select Apple flagships, including Apple SoHo (New York), Apple Ginza (Tokyo), and Apple Regent Street (London).

With limited quantities available, the collaboration appears aimed more at collectors and fashion enthusiasts than mass-market consumers.

Between fashion object and tech curiosity

The iPhone Pocket represents Apple’s ongoing experiment with design-driven lifestyle products, following past collaborations with brands like Hermès and Nike.

For some, it’s a fusion of technology and fashion; for others, a symbol of luxury excess, proof that even a “piece of cloth” can become a premium item when paired with an Apple logo.

TL;DR

• Apple and Issey Miyake unveil the iPhone Pocket, a 3D-knit sleeve for carrying iPhones.
• Prices range from $149.95 to $229.95, depending on strap length.
• Launches November 14 in select Apple Stores worldwide.
• Crafted in Japan using Miyake’s pleating-inspired textile techniques.
• Critics call it “expensive minimalism”; Apple calls it wearable design innovation.