If you thought Apple’s $19 polishing cloth was ridiculous, wait until you hear about Apple’s latest offering. The limited edition iPhone Pocket is a cloth sling for your phone that retails for $149.95 in the short size and $229.95 in the long crossbody size.
It seems like the item itself can be rage fodder. According to Apple’s website, the product is inspired by the concept of a single piece of fabric, where a single piece of fabric makes up an entire design.
But the iPhone pocket actually makes a lot of sense in the context of the fashion world. If the price didn’t blow me away, I’d probably buy a small, bright yellow sock pocket to tie into my azalea pink Telfar bag. But admittedly, I’m not in the income bracket that triple-digit socks are probably targeting.
If you’re at all familiar with Issey Miyake, the Japanese label behind the iPhone Pocket, this design should look familiar. The late Mr. Miyake was a respected designer who pioneered the APOC (“Piece of Cloth”) concept in 1997. This showcased his innovative and technologically advanced approach to fashion while reducing waste.
“Featuring a ribbed mesh construction with an original pleated quality by Issey Miyake, iPhone Pocket is a beautiful way to wear and carry your iPhone,” Apple says. “When stretched, the open textile subtly exposes the contents, giving you a peek into your iPhone’s display.”
It’s no wonder Miyake’s quiet genius caught the attention of Steve Jobs, another businessman known for his creativity. The two became friends, and in the 1990s Mr. Jobs asked Mr. Miyake to design uniforms for Apple employees, similar to those seen at Sony in Japan. Jobs’ team balked at the idea of wearing the same clothes every day, but he liked the idea anyway, so Jobs and Miyake worked together to create his own uniform.
Yes, Issey Miyake, the label behind Steve Jobs’ iconic black mock neck shirt, is also responsible for the iPhone Pocket. (However, Mr. Miyake himself passed away in 2022, so he was not involved in the design of the pocket.) Although the Miyake label and Apple never actually worked together, their collaboration feels like a long time ago, as it was Miyake who cultivated Jobs’ aesthetic, and under Jobs’s stewardship, it was Miyake who came to symbolize Apple’s refined elegance.
Available in just three colors and in a long crossbody size, the iPhone Pocket builds on an existing trend in crossbody cell phone accessories. Apple also released its own $59 crossbody strap this year. I found this to be well made, but a bit finicky for regular use. (However, some photographers claim this is the perfect camera strap).
However, in the short size, which is expected to be more popular due to its lower price and more color options, Apple may be copying Labubu. Please listen.
Like the iPhone Pocket, Labubu’s popularity seems frivolous and incomprehensible, only making it more interesting to those who bought it. “Blind Box” labubs cost about $30 each, but some rare variations of the monster plush keychains could fetch up to $10,000 at the height of the craze. But the more obvious comparison between the Labubu and the short iPhone Pocket is that they are accessories for accessories’ sake. (Perhaps this is a downstream of yet another mysterious trend: accessorizing the Stanley Cup).
Tap to Pay technology, a literal wallet connected to your phone, allows you to leave your home and travel around the world without a problem, taking only your phone with you. (Bonus points if you enter the code and the door unlocks, no keys needed!) No wonder more and more bags are designed for cell phones. Think about how popular Trader Joe’s miniature bags were, or how the tiny crossbody Telfar continues to be the “it” bag. Brands like Free People, Bagu, Lululemon, and even IKEA sell key chains, which are smaller versions of existing bags. It’s safe to say that socks will be next.
Will iPhone Pocket become the love of 2026? I wouldn’t bet on that. But if it were to become a popular holiday gift this season, I would still say I said so.
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